Rep. Neguse Denounces New Trump Administration CMS Rule That Threatens Medicaid Access for Cancer Patients
This pernicious provision would make it more difficult for cancer patients to be able to access and stay on Medicaid. And the question that I am here today to ask of my colleagues is why? Why pursue this rule? Knowing, as I know you do Mr. Speaker, that one out of every ten Americans who has a history of cancer are on Medicaid—one out of ten.”
Washington, D.C. — ICYMI: Yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse took to the House Floor to demand the Trump administration rescind the rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would potentially strip healthcare coverage from cancer patients. CMS announced the new rule on Monday—its purpose is to implement the standards enacted by Congressional Republicans’ “Big, Terrible Bill” (H.R. 1).
Neguse emphasized that safe and affordable healthcare is a matter of life and death for Americans battling cancer, pointing to the statistic that one out of every ten individuals with a history of the disease relies on Medicaid.
The Congressman, whose immediate family has been impacted by cancer, called on his colleagues to join him in urging CMS, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Trump administration to turn back and rescind the rule so that cancer patients stay protected.
To see the full video of Congressman Neguse’s remarks, click HERE.
A full transcript is available below:
Mr. Speaker, like tens of millions of Americans, my family has been impacted by the scourge, a terrible disease, of cancer. My wonderful wife, Andrea, over a year ago, battled for roughly 18 months—breast cancer. And I saw up close the grit, the determination, the strength, that she showed daily to beat that terrible disease.
We were very lucky, but for the grace of God and the incredible care that she received from healthcare providers, the support that we received from family and friends, that she was able to beat that disease—and I count my blessings every day.
You could imagine, Mr. Speaker, given my family's journey, my dismay at an announcement that was made just a few days ago by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It didn't receive a lot of fanfare, but the agency issued a new rule to implement President Trump's Big, Terrible Bill—H.R. 1.
And this rule, in the fine print, makes very clear that it will become more difficult for cancer patients to be able to stay on Medicaid. Let me repeat that—this pernicious provision that the Trump administration has now proposed would make it more difficult for cancer patients to be able to access and stay on Medicaid.
And the question that I am here today to ask of my colleagues is why? Why pursue this rule? Knowing, as I know you do Mr. Speaker, that one out of every ten Americans who has a history of cancer are on Medicaid—one out of ten. Knowing that this is a matter of life and death for millions of Americans.
Why pursue this type of terrible provision, policy, that we know will result in countless Americans no longer being able to access the care that they need to survive? It's cruel. It's unconscionable, in my view.
And so, I am here today on the floor to make a humble request to my colleagues. There is still time to convince CMS and HHS and the Trump administration to turn back, to not proceed with this rule. Countless Americans, a variety of organizations dedicated to helping cancer patients have publicly said, have asked the Trump administration, have implored the Trump administration to reverse course.
There's still time, and I would just encourage my colleagues, request of my colleagues, implore my colleagues to join us in demanding that the Trump administration do the right thing, rescind this rule on behalf of countless families in our country who are looking to us in Washington for help.
With that, I yield back.