Call to Action: Protect Medicaid and the Provider Tax
Earlier this month, I shared that Congress passed a budget resolution that sets the stage for the reconciliation process. As a reminder, this is a powerful legislative tool that allows certain budget-related bills to advance with a simple majority vote. As Congress returns from a two-week recess and committees now begin developing detailed legislation based on these budgetary directives, it is critical that we make our voices heard.
We must ensure that provider taxes are protected. Any reduction in this would directly threaten care for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Our lawmakers must understand that cuts to the provider tax equate to cuts in essential care.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If your senator or congressman is a Republican, we need you to contact them ASAP. It is simple for you to directly contact key Republican members of Congress. Visit the AHCA/NCAL Advocacy Action Center to see step-by-step instructions on how to:
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Send an email: Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives urging them to oppose any reduction in the provider tax. These messages will be directed to their Washington, D.C. offices.
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Make a call: Reach out to your members of Congress at their district offices and share your concerns about the potential impact of provider tax reductions.
Every call and email make a difference. Thank you for standing with us to protect Medicaid and the most vulnerable individuals who depend on it. Contact the AHCA/NCAL Government Relations team with any questions or issues in utilizing the Action Center.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
By now, you have likely seen in the news the recent draft budget developed by the White House Office of Management and Budget outlining proposed cuts and changes to federal health programs – including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
It is important to note that while this draft budget is available because it was leaked to the press, it is still in development and may change. Once the White House releases its official budget proposal, Congress may choose to accept or reject specific cuts. AHCA/NCAL staff will do a thorough review once the official budget proposal is released and share a detailed summary.
I also want to reiterate how pleased I am that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pushed back the mandatory off-cycle SNF provider enrollment revalidation deadline to August 1, 2025. This is the result of ongoing AHCA/NCAL advocacy efforts, and we won’t stop there. We will continue to focus on this and push for further relief ahead of August 1st.
Furthermore, we have the opportunity to respond to CMS’ request for Information, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation of the Medicare Program Request for Information, to help make the regulatory system more rational. We already have a number of ideas as part of our Better Way package and that many of you have shared with us, but we are working with all the AHCA/NCAL committees and State Affiliates to make sure we submit solutions that drive quality.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU IN D.C.
I mean it when I say THANK YOU – for everything you do and for making it your mission to advocate for and protect the millions of people who depend on us every day.
I’m excited to see many of you in Washington, D.C. June 9th and 10th for AHCA/NCAL's Congressional Briefing. And I really do mean many. There are already more than 400 attendees registered for this year’s event! There is still time to register if you haven’t yet – and you don’t want to miss it. We need you to talk to your congressional delegation, as that is our most powerful tool to fend off cuts to Medicaid and the provider tax.
I can’t wait to be together with you all to both celebrate our victories and raise our voices on Capitol hill about the importance of protecting Medicaid. We can only be successful together.
Clifton J. Porter, II
President & CEO, AHCA/NCAL
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