Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) called on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday to allow third-party charitable organizations to provide assistance to low-income patients.
Cassidy and Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) sent a letter to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner that called for additional assistance for those who are unable to afford healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“We need to do as much as we can to help vulnerable patients have access to private and charitable assistance when it’s available,” Cassidy said. “This Obamacare rule contradicts current law that allows charitable organizations to help Medicare patients pay for healthcare costs – creating increased amounts of uncertainty for folks in Louisiana. We need reforms that protect patients by giving them the power to make their healthcare decisions, not government.”
Current law allows payments from third-party non-profit groups for Medicare but not for health plans that are purchased in the ACA’s online healthcare exchanges.
“Obamacare is hurting all Louisianians, but especially our most vulnerable patient populations,” Vitter said. “The skyrocketing costs have made it unaffordable for many to buy health insurance or see a doctor, but preventing charities from helping out our state’s lowest income patients is plain wrong. The Obama administration seems to have no problem with accepting non-profits payments through Medicare. They should extend this same policy to Obamacare policies too.”