Pennsylvania State Rep. Grove Issues Statement on Medicaid Waivers

DOVER, Pennsylvania, Aug. 22 -- The Pennsylvania House Republicans issued the following statement by Pennsylvania State Rep. Seth Grove, R-York, on Medicaid waivers:

Kentucky recently asked the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to grant Section 1115 waivers in relation to Medicaid to allow able-bodied adults to move from welfare to work.

This is an important topic for Rep. Seth Grove (R-York County), who initiated the call for work requirements for able-bodied state Medical Assistance recipients in Pennsylvania. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf.

To aid Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's administration quest to receive the waivers, Grove sent the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a letter, which is attached, voicing his support.

"I fully support Kentucky's initiative to apply for federal Medicaid waivers. It is very important the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approves this request. Doing so would provide an opportunity, not only for Kentucky but for every state, to improve the lives of those enrolled in Medicaid through higher wages while ensuring care continues to the most vulnerable.

"In Pennsylvania, 376,185 able-bodied individuals ages 19 through 64, who are now enrolled in Medicaid through its expansion under Obamacare, reported no income. They represent more than 50 percent of all new enrollees since the Affordable Care Act (ACA). There is little difference in Kentucky where expansion resulted in 428,000 new able-bodied enrollees, or 33 percent of the total Medicaid enrollees in the state. As such, Kentucky's spending on able-bodied adults has increased fivefold to $4 billion this year since 2011.

"Like Kentucky, expansion here, coupled with a decrease in federal funding and increased health care costs, has put inordinate strains on Pennsylvania's budgets. Studies have shown Medicaid recipients face poorer health care options, than even Medicare recipients or individuals without health insurance.

"In addition to curbing costs and producing better health care outcomes, these waivers would help those who are able-bodied earn the health insurance they need and deserve through gainful employment. There is nothing more powerful or fulfilling than earning an income through a family-sustaining job."