FreedomWorks Statement on IMPROVE Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the House moving to pass federal Medicaid expansion known as the IMPROVE Act (H.R. 7217) under Republican leadership, Jason Pye, FreedomWorks Vice President of Legislative Affairs, commented:

“The IMPROVE Act certainly has a sympathetic cause: healthcare coverage for children with complex medical conditions. However, Republicans have long spoken of the need to reform the flawed structure and restrain the exploding spending of Medicaid, not expand the program. Republicans should continue to argue for the merits of putting health care decisions back in the hands of consumers, not begin to advocate for increased federal involvement in the issue.

“Especially in the final few weeks of Republican control of the House, conservatives should fight back more than ever against any expansion of Medicaid, Republican-sanctioned or otherwise. Should Republicans pass the IMPROVE Act, it will send a strong message to House Democrats that, when they take over the majority, Republicans will be willing to play ball with increasing the federal footprint in the healthcare.

“In the healthcare space, the Republican majority in Congress has already failed to repeal Obamacare. This is a large reason of why they lost the majority, and it would be a severe misstep to voluntarily go back on another one of its promises to its voters.”