Sen. Brown Presses Medicare & Medicaid Nominee to Ensure Ohio Families Have Access to Healthcare

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- The office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following news release:

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today pressed Seema Verma - President Trump's nominee to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) - with tough questions on how she'll work to improve healthcare for Ohioans.

Brown reiterated his opposition to raising the Medicare eligibility age and forcing Ohioans to work more years before accessing the Medicare benefits they've earned.

"I would hope you would look at CMS as a platform to stand up to Secretary Price and President Trump against raising the eligibility age for Medicare or privatizing it because both would be devastating to working Americans," said Brown.

As CMS Administrator, Verma would be responsible for administering Medicare and assisting in overseeing both Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Brown, who has led Senate efforts to extend and expand CHIP secured a commitment from Verma and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price to work with him on extending CHIP - which will expire this year and insures 130,000 Ohio kids.

Brown also secured a commitment from Verma to meet with Ohio's new Medicaid Director Barbara Sears if confirmed to foster a positive relationship between the state of Ohio and CMS to serve Ohio's millions of Medicaid patients.

"Ohio's former Medicaid Director, John McCarthy, had an excellent relationship with CMS. This helped to ensure expedited turnarounds on waiver requests and benefitted our state and Ohio's millions of Medicaid beneficiaries," said Brown. "I'd like to ensure this positive working relationship continues."

30FurigayJof-5780201 30FurigayJof