Partnership for Medicaid Home-Based Care (PMHC) Opposes the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

WASHINGTON, DC (PRWEB) December 02, 2017

David J. Totaro, Chairman of the Partnership for Medicaid Home-Based Care (PMHC), issued the following statement as the Senate votes on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

"Having had the opportunity to review the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we wish to express our opposition to passage of this measure as currently drafted due to the risk it poses to vulnerable Americans' access to Medicaid services.

"We recognize that considerable effort has been devoted to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and that provisions within it may prove beneficial to PMHC members' businesses and employees. However, we feel the risk of harm to the Medicaid program and those who depend on it outweigh such considerations

"Our specific areas of concern with this measure pertain to its repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual mandate and the deep cuts that would likely be triggered by its impact on national debt. Today, millions of Americans rely on ACA coverage which would be made more expensive and less accessible if the individual mandate is repealed. Indeed, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that if this repeal is enacted into law, the impact will be felt by 13 million Americans, of which fully five million are individuals who would otherwise enroll in Medicaid for the coverage they and their families need. In addition, it is projected that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will increase federal deficits and our nation's debt by $1.5 trillion, creating the risk that future budget action – including potentially deep Medicaid cuts – may be necessitated as a result.

"We are confident action can be undertaken to reform the tax code and generate jobs growth without harming vulnerable Americans or reducing their access to Medicaid coverage, and we would consider it an honor to assist in such a vital effort. Because this measure, as currently drafted, falls short in this regard, however, we urge the Senate to defer action on this measure to allow for a thoughtful and deliberative review of these issues."

Comprised of home care providers, state and national home care associations, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) and other payers, and business affiliates, PMHC is dedicated to the millions of Americans who depend on high-quality, cost-effective Medicaid home-based care and services. As such, PMHC's guiding mission is to support legislative and regulatory efforts that improve the quality, accessibility, and integrity of home-based care and services in Medicaid.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/12/prweb14974682.htm