On January 30, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) issued a statement attributed to AAFP President Gary LeRoy, MD, expressing concern with the Medicaid block grant plan put forth by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The AAFP contends the “Health Adult Opportunity” plan will hurt the most vulnerable patients in the United States.
“The AAFP expresses its concern over the Administration’s newly released ‘Healthy Adult Opportunity’ proposal, which would upend the current Medicaid financing system in favor of a disruptive block grant financing mechanism. This change, which would affect all adults who are not disabled or in Medicaid long term care services, would reduce access to care in rural and other medically underserved areas; increase strain on state and local governments, physicians and other clinicians, and patients; and ultimately increase uncompensated care costs.
“The expansion of Medicaid over the last six years has been instrumental in providing access to health care for underinsured working families, the uninsured and other vulnerable populations. Today, Medicaid plays a critical role in making quality health care coverage available to more than 70 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
“Moving to a block grant system will likely limit the ability of Medicaid patients to receive preventive and needed medical care from their family physicians, and it will only increase the health disparities that exist in these communities, worsen overall health outcomes, and ultimately, increase costs.
“The current state-federal partnership that exists for Medicaid already allows states significant flexibility to shape the program to fit their needs.
“Family physicians understand the importance of Medicaid in providing people equal access to health care. Nearly two-thirds of family physicians accept new Medicaid patients. The AAFP is committed to ensuring that all patients have access to needed care and affordable coverage. We stand ready to work with federal and state governments to improve the Medicaid program in a way that maintains health care coverage for our country’s vulnerable and underserved populations.”