Health - Medicaid

Medicaid - Archive

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This section contains information on Rep. Waxman's work as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and the Environment of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, a position that he held from 1979 through 1994, as well as his efforts through 1998.

During those years, the Subcommittee had legislative and oversight jurisdiction over a wide range of Federal health care programs, including Medicaid, the Federal-State health care entitlement for the poor. As Chairman, Rep. Waxman authored a number of major initiatives expanding Medicaid's coverage and beneficiary protections while at the same time leading the successful House Democratic opposition to efforts by Presidents Reagan and Bush to slash Federal Medicaid spending or dismantle the program altogether. When the Democrats lost the House in 1994, Rep. Waxman assumed the role of ranking minority member of the Subcommittee. From that position he led the House Democratic opposition to former Speaker Newt Gingrich's unsuccessful two-year effort to repeal the Medicaid program and replace it with a block grant to the States.

Among Rep. Waxman's most significant Medicaid-related legislative achievements are:

Tightening prohibitions against the disposal of assets in order to qualify for nursing home care at Medicaid expense in order to conserve program resources for those who need the assistance (1993).

Closing off loopholes that had been exploited by some States to divert Federal Medicaid dollars to uses other than health care for the poor (1991, 1993).

Using Medicaid's purchasing leverage to obtain discounts of at least 15 percent from prescription drug manufacturers, at a savings of billions each year to State and Federal governments (1990).

Guaranteeing basic health care coverage, including preventive benefits, to all children in poverty (1990).

Guaranteeing coverage for prenatal care, maternity rare, and basic health care for pregnant women and children under age 6 with family incomes at or below 133 percent of the Federal poverty level ($17,263 per year in 1996 for a mother with two children).

Providing basic health care coverage to low-income women and their families to enable them to make the transition from welfare to work (1988).

Covering the Medicare premiums and deductible and coinsurance requirements for millions of low-income Medicare beneficiaries to protect them from excessive out-of-pocket costs (1988).

Protecting sufficient income and resources for the spouses of Medicaid nursing home residents to enable them to maintain their independence in the community (1988).

Expanding and strengthening the civil and criminal penalties for providers found to be defrauding the Medicaid program (1987).

Upgrading the standards which nursing homes must meet in order to participate in Medicaid, leading to a dramatic increase in the quality of care for all nursing home residents, not just those eligible for Medicaid (1987).

Allowing States to cover home- and community-based services as an alternative to institutional care for the frail elderly and disabled (1981), and

Defeating the "Medicaid cap" proposed by President Reagan and Budget Director David Stockman to shift the cost of the Medicaid program from the Federal government to the States (1981).