Working Families Tax Cuts Improve Health Care Access and Affordability

Washington, D.C.-February is American Heart Month, and the Working Families Tax Cuts advanced by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) are making health care more accessible and affordable for millions of vulnerable Americans. The law makes commonsense reforms to Medicaid to reduce fraud and abuse so that more support is left available to those who really need it. It also helps people save more for health care expenses, expands access to a variety of health services and makes a transformational investment in rural health care systems.

"Americans living in remote areas should not have to travel hours for medical care-especially when they have illnesses where minutes count," said Crapo. "Idaho's $185 million Rural Health Transformation Program grant this year will enable us to build up our rural health workforce and improve patient outcomes across the state. Combined with measures to make care more affordable and protect Medicaid from fraud, these investments could save lives."

Key wins:

• $50 billion five-year Rural Health Transformation Program
• Increased access to Health Savings Accounts
• Increased access to zero-deductible telehealth services
• Expanded home-based care for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Repeal of Biden-era staffing rules that threatened rural nursing homes
• New eligibility requirements for Medicaid, including stronger provisions against noncitizen enrollment

What they are saying:

"This funding gives Idaho the flexibility to pursue solutions that are shaped by rural communities themselves. By listening to providers, patients, and local leaders, the state can make targeted investments that support sustainable, high-quality care close to home." - Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Charron

"I practice in cardiology, and having efficient, effective, high-quality care is so important. Time is of the essence, and patients need to be able to have close proximity to their doctors to get the care that they deserve. . . . We should be able to do what we are best at and take care of our patients on an equal playing field, and this certainly helps that." - Andrew, cardiologist

Click HERE to learn more about the Rural Health Transformation Program.

Click HERE to learn more about the Finance Committee provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

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