Cassidy, Vitter Urge Administration to Treat Charitable Non-Profits Fairly Under Obamacare

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Senator David Vitter (R-La.) sent a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), urging CMS to allow payments from third party non-profit charitable organizations to help low income patients unable to afford healthcare under Obamacare.

Under current law, payments from third party non-profits can be put toward Medicare, but not healthcare plans in Obamacare exchanges. Cassidy and Vitter are asking CMS to apply the existing Medicare standard to Obamacare as well.

Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) released the following statement:

"We need to do as much as we can to help vulnerable patients have access to private and charitable assistance when its available. 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."

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) released the following statement:

"Obamacare is hurting all Louisianians but especially our most vulnerable patient populations. 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."

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