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Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on H.R. 748, the CARES Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 27, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, 202-204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON H.R. 748, THE CARES ACT
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), today issued the following statement on the passage of H.R. 748, the CARES Act.
“We thank Congress for its continued leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and for the inclusion of policies that will support public health for the duration of this pandemic and beyond.
“The legislation seeks a wide and broad range of assistance for Americans struggling under the weight of COVID-19. In addition, we applaud reform of 42 CFR Part 2, which will improve care coordination for people with substance use disorders and allow plans and providers to better serve our enrollees. Particularly in the middle of a public health emergency, removing barriers to care is critical.
“We are also relieved that protections remain for the requirement that states maintain continuous Medicaid eligibility as set forth in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Congress wisely recognized that now is the time to provide Americans certainty that their Medicaid coverage won’t be stripped from them because of burdensome paperwork or slight changes in income.
“America still has many challenges before it and Congress and the Federal government must continue to step up to the plate. Establishing a Federal Special Enrollment Period and risk corridor program for the Marketplaces, limiting the sale of short-term, limited-duration insurance, increasing Federal Medicaid matching funds for states that didn’t expand their programs, and placing a moratorium on CMS’ interoperability and MFAR regulations are necessary to give America’s health care system the tools necessary to fight the COVID-19 pandemic successfully.
“Safety Net Health Plans are hard at work supporting efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic. We applaud the swift, bipartisan, bicameral action taken today.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 74 Safety Net Health Plans, which collectively serve more than 20 million people. ACAP-member Safety Net Health Plans and partners serve their communities through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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