Congressman Marc Veasey today joined four of his Democratic colleagues in calling for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to unfreeze federal Medicaid funding for Texas’ hospitals. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar and Congressmen Henry Cuellar, Vincente Gonzalez and Filemon Vela have also written letters to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressing their concern over the impact this lack of funding will have on Texas’ most vulnerable populations.

As negotiations over Texas’ 1115 Medicaid waiver continue, funding supplied from CMS for Texas’ Directed Payment Programs (DPPs), which support basic healthcare functions for the uninsured and the underinsured, has been frozen since September 1. These DPPs are vital to assisting those in Texas’ urban and rural areas and non-renewal of this program could jeopardize more than $10 billion in annual Medicaid funding for the state. Importantly, while the DPPs are referenced in the waiver, CMS still maintains the discretion and authority to approve the payments regardless of the status of the litigation.

In his letter, Congressman Veasey makes clear that, “the approval of new DPPs and the successful renewal of existing waivers are critical to sustaining access to health care services and lowering health inequalities for Medicaid enrolled and uninsured people across the state.”

“Texas is now entering its fourth month without funding for Directed Payment Programs which support vital healthcare services for our most vulnerable,” said Texas Essential Healthcare Partnerships President, Don Lee. “TEHP is appreciative of Congressman Veasey for his efforts to restore these critical programs and will continue to work with him on this issue.”