Rep. Malinowski Condemns Trump Administration's Attempt to Restrict Access to Medicaid

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release:

Representative Malinowski voted to pass H.Res. 826, Expressing Disapproval of the Trump Administration's Harmful Actions Towards Medicaid.

The Administration recently announced new guidance that would allow states to cap the amount of federal funding they receive for their Medicaid program through a fixed block grant. Under the block grant guidance, states would be able to deny coverage to many Americans who have qualified for Medicaid since its expansion under the Affordable Care Act, and to limit benefits - for example, by adopting restrictive formularies that limit prescription drug coverage. In New Jersey over 1.6 million people are covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

The guidance marks the latest step in the Administration's ongoing effort to sabotage the Affordable Care Act - including rules that allow junk plans that do not cover pre-existing conditions, undermining Medicaid expansion, and going to court to repeal the entire Act. President Trump is proposing no alternative to the Affordable Care Act, and has said he will not do so until after the 2020 election.

"The Trump Administration's proposed guidance on Medicaid threatens healthcare for millions of Americans, and is another attempt to undermine the protections of the Affordable Care Act," said Representative Malinowski. "I will keep fighting for access to affordable health care for all Americans, especially the most vulnerable among us."