Texas hospitals have made significant progress in opposing the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule and appreciate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' decision to withdraw the rule for further study.
Texas hospitals have strongly opposed the rule since it was proposed in November 2019. The proposed rule sought to limit states' ability to draw down federal Medicaid funding, jeopardizing
$11 billion in Texas hospitals’ supplemental Medicaid payments in 2020 alone.
It would have increased state and local taxes, eroded the state’s control the Medicaid program and devastated the state's already fragile health care infrastructure.
The Texas Hospital Association submitted written comments to CMS, Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Congressional delegation and worked closely with stakeholders and state and federal leadership to have the rule withdrawn.
In March, all 36 members of the Texas Congressional delegation signed onto the bipartisan letter, led by U.S. Reps. Michael Burgess (R-Lewisville), Marc Veasey (D-Fort Worth), Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (D-Houston), expressing concern to CMS about the expected impact of the rule on providers, patients and the Texas economy.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, delegation leaders of the March letter and members of the Texas Congressional delegation filed legislation and took other actions to delay implementation of the rule. Learn more from the resources below.
Medicaid Directors Urge CMS to Suspend MFAR During COVID-19 Pandemic (July 27, 2020)
THA, Health Care Advocates Ask Congress to Increase FMAP, Block MFAR (July 14, 2020)
Burgess/Olson/Flores Request COVID-Related MFAR Delay (March 31, 2020)
Joint Association Letter Thanking Texas Congressional Delegation for MFAR Support (March, 10, 2020)
Texas Congressional Delegation MFAR Letter to CMS (March 10, 2020)
Children’s Hospital Association of Texas MFAR Comment Letter (Jan. 31, 2020)
Joint-Association MFAR Letter to Texas Congressional Delegation (Jan. 30, 2020)
THA Comments to CMS on MFAR (Jan. 30, 2020)
AHA Comment Letter to CMS on MFAR (Jan. 29, 2020)
Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals’ Comments to CMS on MFAR (Jan. 29, 2020)
MACPAC Comments on MFAR (Jan. 28, 2020)
THA Information Alert: Use THA's Resources to Urge CMS to Withdraw MFAR (Jan. 28, 2020)
Texas Association of Voluntary Hospitals’ Comments to CMS on MFAR (Jan. 24, 2020)
AHA Model Comment Letter on MFAR (Jan. 21, 2020)
THA Letter Asking THHSC to Delay UHRIP Reforms (Jan. 14, 2020)
Joint Association MFAR Letter to Gov. Abbott (Jan. 17, 2020)
THA Information Alert: CMS Proposed Rule Could Upend Stability of Texas Medicaid Program, Health Care Safety Net (Nov. 19, 2020)
AHA Special Bulletin on Proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (Nov. 14, 2019)