TUPELO, Miss. — The Biden administration’s recently proposed rule to “streamline” Medicaid enrollment is unlawful and constitutes a backdoor expansion of Medicaid that will increase fraud and serve as yet another inducement for able-bodied adults to remain on welfare. In an effort to fight this proposed rule, AFA Action, the governmental affairs affiliate of American Family Association, encouraged citizens around the country to submit comments during the recent notice and comment period for the rule. Dr. Jameson Taylor, AFA Action director of policy and government affairs, also submitted a formal comment to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Welfare dependency is destroying American families,” commented Taylor. “It encourages fathers not to work and sets a bad example for children. Medicaid, in particular, is a very expensive welfare program that is draining state budgets, leaving less money for priorities like roads and education. This proposed rule will destroy the Medicaid program as we know it, ushering in government-controlled healthcare. This will lead to longer wait times, higher death rates, and lower-quality care.

“Medicaid has already rapidly expanded since the COVID-19 public health emergency. Nearly 20 million people have enrolled in Medicaid since February 2020, and according to the Foundation for Government Accountability, ‘Federal Medicaid spending has grown by more than $200 billion since 2013.’ Much of this growth is being fueled by federal policies that prevent states from removing ineligible recipients. In turn, improper payments are also skyrocketing.”

Taylor continued, “By limiting the ability of states to conduct simple eligibility checks like verifying identity (and, in effect, citizenship status), verifying income, and verifying an address, this rule will massively increase fraud and waste in Medicaid. In an age where modern technology can instantly verify a person’s identity, the idea that ‘streamlining’ enrollment requires less rigorous eligibility standards is patently absurd and demonstrably false.

“Instead of ‘simplifying’ enrollment — and making it easier to defraud Medicaid — the administration should be looking for ways to eliminate fraud. At best, this rule seems oblivious to the fact that fraud and improper payments are a major problem for Medicaid. At worse, it betrays the poor and vulnerable by using increased fraud, increased improper payments, and increased enrollment as a catalyst to bring about ‘Medicaid for All’ — that is, a government-controlled healthcare system.”

AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society and government by educating and influencing public policy. Find AFA Action Alerts here. 

For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or Twitter.

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To interview an AFA Action spokesperson, contact [email protected], Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.  