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For Immediate Release Contact: Amanda Molk, 202-225-5256 Napolitano Applauds California’s Waiver Renewal Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D-CA38) applauded HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson’s announcement today that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had approved California’s 2-year Medicaid waiver. “This extraordinary news means that our healthcare safety net will continue operating and serving our needy,” noted the Congresswoman. The waiver is particularly important for Los Angeles County, whose own waiver was tied to the state’s by CMS. “The additional $250 million that the County health system will receive under this waiver is critical. The closing of any more facilities in our communities would have been truly devastating,” commented Napolitano. However, the waiver is not a cure-all for the County’s healthcare problems. “Even with these funds, there is still an enormous unmet health care need in the 38th district. These funds will not automatically bring back the clinics that were already closed in our area. This waiver renewal buys us time by preventing more closings in the near future, but the County must use that time to determine a cost-effective way to ensure access to care for everyone,” stated the Congresswoman. Local Representatives have been staunchly pressuring CMS for months to renew the state and county waivers. “I am so proud of how the California delegation came together and crossed party lines to address the needs of our constituents. I look forward to continuing to work with them as we fight for the needs of my district, Los Angeles County and California,” Napolitano concluded.
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