Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) joined a group of congressional colleagues in reiterating their commitment to protecting Medicaid coverage for vulnerable communities. While supporting reductions to federal spending, the letter urges that Medicaid reforms should not come at the expense of vulnerable populations including pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. 

With a new proposal from the Senate Finance Committee, the letter highlights that it is essential the final reconciliation bill protects the priorities of their constituents.

“Throughout the reconciliation process, I have fought to protect and preserve Medicaid for Virginia’s most vulnerable,” said Congressman Wittman. “This fight is personal to me. I was adopted at eight months old from the Children’s Home Society of Virginia in Richmond. Medicaid is an indispensable lifeline for our nation’s most vulnerable, including people with disabilities, seniors, and expectant mothers. I know firsthand what access to care means for families like mine—and I’ve made it clear that we must stand up for those who often don’t have a voice.”

Congressman Wittman has been committed to protecting Medicaid coverage for Virginia’s most vulnerable populations while advancing common sense reforms that improve care for patients and ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. Earlier this year, Congressman Wittman wrote a letter to House leadership advocating to preserve Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations as Congress considers budget reconciliation legislation.

Read the full letter here or below.

_____

Dear Majority Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson: 

As Members of Congress who helped secure a Republican majority, we believe it is essential that the final reconciliation bill reflects the priorities of our constituents—most importantly, the critical need to protect Medicaid and the hospitals that serve our communities. Throughout the budget process, we have consistently affirmed our commitment to ensuring that reductions in federal spending do not come at the expense of our most vulnerable constituents. We write to reiterate that commitment to those we represent here in Washington.

We support the Medicaid reforms in H.R. 1, which strengthen the program’s ability to serve children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The proposal released by the Senate Finance Committee on June 16 includes provisions that go beyond H.R. 1. The House’s approach reflects a more pragmatic and compassionate standard, and we urge that it be retained in the final bill. 

The Senate proposal also undermines the balanced approach taken to craft the Medicaid provisions in H.R. 1—particularly regarding provider taxes and state directed payments. The Senate version treats expansion and non-expansion states unfairly, fails to preserve existing state programs, and imposes stricter limits that do not give hospitals sufficient time to adjust to new budgetary constraints or to identify alternative funding sources. 

Protecting Medicaid is essential for the vulnerable constituents we were elected to represent. Therefore, we cannot support a final bill that threatens access to coverage or jeopardizes the stability of our hospitals and providers. 

We appreciate your ongoing leadership in advocating for our members’ priorities as you engage in negotiations with the Senate. We look forward to discussing these issues further and working together toward a solution that reflects our conference’s goals.

###