Bilirakis Continues Work to Improve Medicaid

Today, the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health reviewed six bills to strengthen Medicaid for our nation's most vulnerable. As part of our effort to improve Medicaid efficiency, we discussed my legislation, H.R. 1570, the Medicaid and CHIP Territory Transparency Act. H.R. 1570 would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to include similar information on the Medicaid and CHIP Programs in the territories on its website as it provides to the states.

"As the Committee continues its efforts to improve Medicaid for our nation's most vulnerable, it is imperative that we have all the data and information available to understand any problems and exercise proper oversight over the program. Transparency is key if we want our government to work efficiently and effective. My legislation encourages transparency and consistency for all state and territory Medicaid programs across the board," Bilirakis said.

Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), Commissioner Patricia Riley, agreed such consistency and transparency are best going forward in order to help our efforts in addressing Medicaid issues. Watch our exchange here:

HHS OIG Director of Medicaid Audits, John Hagg, also echoed that more transparency is always beneficial.

The Medicaid and CHIP Territory Transparency Act is a bipartisan bill and has the support of all the Congressional delegates from the U.S. territories.

Learn more about the legislation reviewed today here.