Medicaid Changes Would Be Severe On Local Economy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of theCommittee on Energy and Commerce, offered the following statement onthe Families USA report entitled, "Bad Medicine: The President's Medicaid Regulations Will Weaken Colorado's Economy."

"The Bush Administration's ill-conceived alterations of the Medicaidsystem will have a drastic affect on Colorado's entire safety-net,"said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy andCommerce, which has jurisdiction over health care policy. "The FamiliesUSA report offers another chilling perspective that these regulationswould severely harm our state. With our economy stumbling and healthcare costs rising, we cannot afford another blow to our local economyas hospitals face the real threat of closing their doors.

"Congress is working aggressively to halt the implementation of thesedraconian regulations. It is a top priority to pass bipartisanlegislation, placing a temporary, one-year moratorium on the rules,expected in the House soon."