AARP Thanks Maryland's Representatives for Supporting Bill to Protect People in Medicaid

Association urges Senators Cardin and Mikulski to quickly pass companion bill and send measure to President

BALTIMORE, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP thanked the supporters and cosponsors of the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008, which passed today in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill prevents massive increases in costs for people in Medicaid by stopping harmful cuts proposed by the administration.

"Today's vote is a victory for all Marylanders who rely on Medicaid as the safety net of our health care system," said AARP Maryland senior state director Joe DeMattos. "With 47 million Americans already uninsured, our country and our state cannot afford to make it any harder for our most vulnerable to pay for their health care."

AARP thanks the members of the Maryland delegation who cosponsored the bill or provided critical support in gaining unanimous passage of this legislation first in the Energy & Commerce committee and today in the full House:

Maryland's Medicaid director estimated the impact of the proposed cuts would cost the state more than $67 million in the first year alone. While AARP supports smart policies to stop fraud, waste and abuse in Medicaid, the cuts proposed by the administration threaten the integrity of the program and shift unreasonable costs to the people in Medicaid and the states.

"We're proud that our U.S. Representatives recognized the harm the administration's proposals would have done to people in Maryland's Medicaid program, and we thank them for acting swiftly and with such wide, bipartisan support to stop these cuts," said DeMattos. "We now urge Senators Cardin and Mikulski to vote to protect Medicaid as the Senate considers this measure."

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP Maryland