Reps. Kaptur, Fudge, Beatty, Ryan Urge Ohio Gov. DeWine to Reject Trump Administration's Medicaid Block Grant Proposal

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, issued the following news release:

Representatives Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), and Tim Ryan (OH-13) sent a letter urging Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to reject Medicaid block grants for the state of Ohio. On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a plan, entitled "Healthy Adult Opportunity," encouraging states to fund Medicaid through block grants.

"The Trump Administration's proposal is a radical betrayal of the most vulnerable Americans, including millions of children and older adults," said Rep. Kaptur. "It will allow states to undermine the delivery of care for more than 71 million people currently on Medicaid and its affiliate the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are among my highest priorities in Congress and I will work closely with my colleagues to ensure that the Trump Administration does not succeed in abandoning the millions of Americans who depend on these programs. I call on Governor DeWine to stand with the people of Ohio and swiftly reject the Trump Administration's cruel proposal."

In their letter to Governor DeWine, the Members noted research "indicates instituting a per capita cap for Medicaid in Ohio would likely increase the state's financial risk, decrease its authority over program design, reduce access to services, eliminate long-standing oversight protections and encourage institutionalization of older adults."

Pointing to the Administration's repeated efforts to cut Medicaid, the Members added, "the plan to allow state Medicaid block grants further demonstrates the Administration's clear commitment to gutting social service programs and access to health care for our most vulnerable."

The Members urged Governor DeWine to "support Ohio's Medicaid expansion population and reject proposals aimed at weakening this critical, life-saving program."

The text of the letter can be found here (https://kaptur.house.gov/sites/kaptur.house.gov/files/documents/02.11.20%20OH%20Delegation%20Letter%20to%20Gov.%20DeWine%20on%20Medicaid%20Block%20Grants.pdf).