January 22,2003

Grassley on Reversal of Medicaid Emergency Room Policy

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Fr: Jill Gerber, 202/224-6522
Re: Medicaid emergency room policy
Da: Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the following
statement on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid’s reversal of a recent policy limiting some
Medicaid patients’ access to emergency room care.

“The CMS policy of December 20th limiting Medicaid patients’ access to emergency room
care just didn’t add up. When I and other members of my committee -- both Democrat and
Republican -- raised objections and asked questions this week, we got answers that failed to make the case. While I support states taking steps to limit the improper use of emergency room care, I don’t support doing it in a way that jeopardizes both patient access and fair treatment of emergency providers. I’m glad that after listening to the Finance Committee, CMS did the right thing, put patients first, and rescinded its policy.”