Administration Encourages States to Block Grant Medicaid

On January 30, 2020 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance, through a State Medicaid Director Letter, which encourages states to voluntarily adopt caps on their federal Medicaid funds under a Medicaid section 1115 demonstration waiver. This “block granting” of Medicaid would fundamentally change Medicaid programs by allowing states to limit benefits and services, jeopardizing the health of millions of beneficiaries and their families.

The Center for Medicare Advocacy strongly opposes block granting Medicaid, and urges CMS to rescind this harmful guidance. The Center will work to fight this guidance, and any specific waiver proposals block granting Medicaid that emerge as a result of the guidance.
Additional Resources:

• https://www.cbpp.org/research/health/trump-administrations-harmful-changes-to-medicaid
• https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2020/01/30/medicaid-work-requirements-and-beyond-cms-administrator-tries-a-new-work-around/