Sen. Masto: Administration's Medicaid Block Grant Rule Threatens American Families' Access to Health Care

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release:

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's new proposal to rip away health care from millions of Americans by ending Medicaid as we know it and converting it to an optional capped block grant for states. This proposal could result in harmful cuts to Medicaid programs across the country and put millions of Americans at risk of losing access to comprehensive health care coverage.

"The Trump Administration couldn't get its cruel plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act and roll back Medicaid expansion through Congress, so now it's trying another route to rip health care away from millions of Americans who have gained coverage through Medicaid expansion.

Nevada's Medicaid expansion has allowed thousands of Nevadans to gain coverage. I'm proud it's enjoyed bipartisan support and Governor Sisolak continues to defend it. Yet for millions of Americans, this plan to turn Medicaid into a block grant program under the guise of enhancing "flexibility" is a cruel and irresponsible lie that puts critical benefits like emergency care or prescription drug coverage on the chopping block.

The President's plan is yet another attempt to pay for the deficit-exploding tax break he gave to the richest Americans and big corporations on the backs of the most vulnerable Americans. I'll continue to fight in the Senate to protect this critical program and prevent the President from sabotaging the health care of thousands of Nevadans and ripping it away from millions more Americans."