Reps. Manning, Bourdeaux Call for a Permanent, Comprehensive Solution to the Medicaid Coverage Gap

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- Rep. Kathy Manning, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release:

Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) co-led a letter with Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux (GA-07) to congressional leadership urging them to prioritize including a permanent, comprehensive fix for the Medicaid coverage gap in the final reconciliation bill.

In the letter, Members wrote, "We must finally fulfill the promise Congress made when it passed the Affordable Care Act and ensure that the poorest individuals and families in our nation have access to health care by closing the Medicaid coverage gap in the Build Back Better Act."

Congresswoman Kathy Manning stated, "States like North Carolina, whose Republican-controlled legislature refuses to expand Medicaid, leave hardworking people who earn too little to afford health insurance with no health care coverage. This partisan failing impacts the health, safety, and finances of millions of Americans, including more than 500,000 people from North Carolina. It's imperative that we include Medicaid expansion in the Build Back Better Act to close the coverage gap and finally extend health care coverage to millions of hardworking Americans."

Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux said, "As conversations continue surrounding what will make the cut in our final budget reconciliation bill, we must acknowledge the importance of addressing the fiscal, social, and moral irresponsibility of not expanding Medicaid. States like Georgia have left low-income Americans hung out to dry for far too long."

The Medicaid coverage gap currently leaves millions of Americans without health insurance, including over 500,000 people in North Carolina.

Congresswoman Manning has consistently called attention to the urgent need to expand coverage in states like North Carolina, and she joined Congresswoman Bourdeaux in introducing the Medicaid Saves Lives Act in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

Read the letter here: https://bourdeaux.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/bourdeaux.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2021.10.22%20-%20Bourdeaux%20-%20Letter%20to%20leadership%20re%20coverage%20gap.pdf