Washington, DC – As Republicans continue to negotiate their Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill behind closed doors to terminate health insurance for millions of Americans, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act, legislation to help provide reliable access to care by guaranteeing a 12-month period of enrollment to all adult Medicaid beneficiaries
Last week, Whitehouse joined Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and several other Senate Democrats in announcing a legislative package to strengthen and invest in Rhode Island’s Medicaid program for children, seniors, Americans with disabilities, and working families, while boosting federal anti-fraud initiatives. Whitehouse included the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act as part of this legislative package.
“Republicans’ Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill will destabilize Rhode Island hospitals and entire health care systems with cruel and dangerous cuts to Medicaid, all so they can fund even more tax giveaways to big corporations and their billionaire donors,” said Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. “I’m glad to join Congresswoman Dingell in introducing this bill to cut red tape and strengthen Medicaid for the Rhode Islanders who rely on it for childbirth, addiction treatment, nursing home care, and so much more.”
“No one should lose access to health care because of bureaucratic delays,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Especially at a time when Medicaid is facing the biggest cuts in history, it’s more important than ever that we prevent people from losing coverage and slipping through the cracks due to paperwork and red tape. This legislation will guarantee 12 months of continuous coverage for the most vulnerable Americans, improving access to consistent, quality healthcare that results in better health outcomes.”
Nearly 80 million Americans – including nearly 310,000 Rhode Islanders or more than 25 percent of the state’s population – are enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Medicaid is the largest public health insurance program in the United States. Medicaid provides funding to states for services at nursing homes, doctors’ offices, and hospitals for low-income elderly adults, children, pregnant women, veterans, and people with disabilities. Medicaid also provides critical home health and school-based services as well as addiction and mental health services.
The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act extends twelve months of guaranteed coverage to all individuals enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. The legislation would ensure that once enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, an individual retains their eligibility for 12 months regardless of fluctuations in income. Without this provision, beneficiaries can lose their eligibility for Medicaid because of short-term changes in income (e.g. a seasonal position) when income may briefly exceed 138% of the federal poverty level ($1,800/month for a single person). Guaranteeing a 12-month enrollment period smooths this cliff, ensuring beneficiaries do not lose their coverage until they are reevaluated at the next renewal.
Whitehouse introduced the bill as congressional Republicans continue to try to jam their reconciliation bill through the House and Senate. Republicans falsely claim the bill addresses waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system but it actually rips away affordable health care from millions of Americans without doing anything meaningful on health care fraud. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has found that virtually all of the health care cuts in the legislation would actually come from families that count on Medicaid losing their coverage or benefits. If the Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill passes, it would be the largest cut to American health care in history – all to fund tax breaks that would further enrich the country’s richest people.
The full text of the Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act is available here.
