After passage of Omnibus Bill, Millions of Americans will be removed from Medicaid

Millions of U.S. citizens were enrolled in this program. Medicaid Insurance programs that were in place during the COVID-19 pandemic may soon be without coverage due to passage of the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill.

In January 2020, Trump declared a public emergency (PHE). This has been renewed every 90-days since. In March 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was passed into law. It prohibits states from removing Medicaid recipients while the PHE is in place. This ensures that Americans are protected from any potential pandemic.

However, the $1.7 trillion Omnibus Bill contains a provision that will end Medicaid coverage from PHE. This means that states can begin removing people who don’t meet Medicaid criteria starting in April 2023.

Medicaid is a free or low-cost form of health care. People are eligible based upon their income and family size. When incomes rise or they are not eligible for Medicaid, people lose their coverage.

According to an estimate by the Health and Human Services (HHS), around 15 million Americans could end up losing Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage once states begin to judge individuals based on the eligibility criteria that were in effect prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republican Push to End Public Health Education

A group consisting of 25 Republican governors sent a letter To President Joe Biden Dec. 19, asking that he end PHE in April

PHE has negative effects on states because it artificially increases the number of Americans who are eligible for Medicaid, even if they are not. States are required to spend more money on the program as a result.

“Making the situation worse, we know that a considerable number of individuals have returned to employer-sponsored coverage or are receiving coverage