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February 2nd, 2018
Rep. Grijalva Leads Arizona Democratic Members in Condemning Unlawful and Harmful Changes to Arizona’s Medicaid Program

TUCSON, AZ—Today, Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) led fellow Arizona Democrats Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in submitting official comments urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reject changes to Arizona’s Medicaid Program. The proposed 1115 Medicaid waiver would implement work requirements; institute unnecessary disenrollment periods and redeterminations; and impose lifetime limits on benefits. The public comment period for the proposed changes remains open until February 5.

Their comment read in part:

“We ask that you carefully review and reject any and all provisions that limit access, reduce coverage, penalize low-income Arizonans, act as a barrier to care, or cause individuals to lose their coverage. These items violate the intent and objectives of the Medicaid program and therefore, are unlawful. The waiver requests do not to meet any valid experimental purpose requirements and represent a grave risk to low-income, vulnerable populations and those with disabilities.”

Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva issued the following statement:

“This latest Medicaid waiver is a disaster for the one in four Arizona residents who rely on the program for health care. The proposal does nothing more than target working families, put an administrative burden on the state, and embroil Arizona in costly legal battles. I urge CMS to reject this proposal and protect the care of Arizona’s most vulnerable residents.”

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