Congressman Al Green Announces State of Texas’ Healthcare 1115 Protection Will Remain, Calls for Texas to Permanently Expand Healthcare to All Texans

(Houston, TX) — On Friday, April 22, 2022, Congressman Al Green released the following statement:

“The State of Texas has long been neglectful and complicit in failing to properly care for its poorest population, leaving behind the least, the last, and the lost. Our state has the highest number and percentage of uninsured residents in the United States, in part because it refuses to permanently expand Medicaid and relies on temporary programs such as the 1115 Medicaid waiver. It is worth noting that about 90% of the cost of permanently expanding Medicaid in Texas would be funded by the federal government, not the state.”

“The temporary 1115 waiver is a fund that exists to support Texas hospitals when they need to be reimbursed for the costs of treating uninsured patients. It has been the subject of ongoing litigation between the State of Texas and the federal government for approximately one year. It was set to expire in October 2022, at the end of its 10-year mark. However, an extension was granted in January 2021 by the Trump administration to prolong the temporary 1115 waiver for another 10 years. But in April 2021, the Biden administration overturned the extension by way of a letter submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).”

“I am pleased to share with you today that CMS announced they are rescinding their letter, thus ceasing litigation immediately and allowing the temporary 1115 waiver to remain in place until 2030. Although this does not absolve the State of Texas of fault for failing to expand Medicaid––and thus forcing the State to rely on federal dollars and temporary measures to care for its population––this news brings relief to many families, as they will be able to continue getting the help they need when they need it, including treatment for COVID-19.”