Rep. Pallone Issues Statement on CMS Medicaid Guidance

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has rescinded critical Medicaid guidance:

"The Trump Administration is continuing its attack on women's health. Today's decision is a complete reversal of prior Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance, stands in contrast to the Justice Department's interpretation of the Medicaid statute, and contradicts the longstanding principle that Medicaid enrollees should be permitted to obtain care from their provider of choice.

"It's outrageous that the Administration is now encouraging states to block women's access to providers like Planned Parenthood for purely ideological reasons.

"This is a dangerous precedent and I will continue to oppose any efforts by this Administration to roll back these critical protections."