New Mexico鈥檚 congressional delegation is calling for more oversight of funds meant to soften the impact of federal health care cuts in rural areas. Rep. (D-NM) sent signed by 27 Democratic members of Congress, including New Mexico's other representatives, Democrats Gabe Vasquez and Melanie Stansbury, to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The letter states the fund doesn鈥檛 do enough to cover the in cuts to Medicaid, and gives Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz "sweeping authority to approve or deny state applications, and distribute funds with little to no public or congressional oversight.鈥�
The $50 billion was created as a part of the federal budget reconciliation bill, more widely known as President Trump鈥檚 . The Senate added the program to the bill the bill鈥檚 funding cuts would irreparably damage rural hospitals.
In the Kennedy letter, the signees urge CMS to establish a deadline for states鈥� applications, outline transparent criteria and metrics for proposal evaluation and approval, and prioritize funding for rural communities most impacted by the larger health care funding cuts.
Troy Clark, president of the , told 九色网 that there needs to be more clear guidance on where exactly these funds would go and who would qualify for them.
Clark said comments made by Oz and Kennedy have muddled things further. For example, Kennedy said , but Clark said the statute itself doesn鈥檛 include guidelines on whether that hospital has to serve rural areas, or any details on how those funds would be approved.
Clark says he 鈥済reatly appreciates鈥� Leger Fernandez鈥檚 request for clarification, and eagerly awaits guidance from CMS.
The letter seeks a formal response from Kennedy.
Support for this coverage comes from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
