Regional state policymakers urge Congress to preserve successful state-federal Medicaid partnership

Yesterday, the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Regional Conference (CSG/ERC) sent a letter calling on Congressional leaders to protect and support the 50-year, successful state-federal Medicaid partnership. CSG/ERC is comprised of state policymaker members from eleven Northeastern states from Maine to Maryland as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and five eastern Canadian provinces. Signed by ERC Co-Chairs Sen. Terry Gerratana and Rep. Kevin Ryan (CT) the letter notes that state legislators represent the same constituents as members of Congress. As the letter points out, “For over fifty years, Medicaidhas been a beacon of effective state and federal collaboration. The program delivers critical preventive and acute care services to one in five residents of our region. Medicaid serves the needs of the most fragile Americans, provides financial security for families, and is a cornerstone of state health systems and economies.” The letter follows an ERC Resolution passed last December also supporting the Medicaid state-federal partnership.