“Health Care Law will Increase State Medicaid Costs by $118 Billion;

Congress Must Take Action to Alleviate States’ Fiscal Crisis”

Washington, D.C.– Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after today’s Committee hearing, The Consequences of ObamaCare: Impact on Medicaid and State Health Care Reform:

“As we saw at today’s hearing, Governors of both parties are urging Congress to deal with the growing Medicaid costs imposed on the states by last years’ radical health care law,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “In fact, we estimate that the government takeover of health care will cost states at least $118 billion through 2023.  Congress needs to provide states with flexibility – flexibility of eligibility, flexibility to determine services, and flexibility with provider reimbursements.  Otherwise, Governors will be forced to raise taxes, cut vital services, or both.”

According to a front-page article in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, 29 Governors have asked the federal government to waive the requirement that states can’t limit Medicaid eligibility or else they’ll lose federal funding.  “The push sets up a showdown between states struggling with fiscal 2012 budgets and the Obama Administration… Congress could be forced to settle the matter.’”

On Feb. 23, 2011, Rep. McMorris Rodgers met with Gov. Christine Gregoire (D-WA), Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), on the topic of Medicaid reform.  In her speech at this weekend’s NGA Conference, Gov. Gregoire urged states and Congress to “cooperate” on Medicaid reform.

On Feb. 16, 2011, the Seattle Times published an op-ed by Rep. McMorris Rodgers and Jason Mercier, Director of the Center for Government Reform at the Washington Policy Center, on the urgent need for Medicaid transformation. To read the full op-ed, click here.