The movement of President Donald Trump to freeze federal funds for a massive number of government programs seems to have affected Medicaid’s payment systems throughout the country, potentially enclosing 72 million Americans from their health insurance.
Several legislators went to social networks on Tuesday afternoon to confirm that the medical payment systems of their state have closed.
“You can confirm. The Connecticut Medicaid payment system has been deactivated. Doctors and hospitals cannot receive payments, “Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut wrote in a publication in the social media site X.” Ongoing discussions about whether services can continue. “
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden said in X that his staff has confirmed that Medicaid portals in the 50 states are low due to the freezing of federal funds of the Trump administration.
The Medicare and Medicaid Services Center (CMS) of the United States did not respond immediately to the request for Comments from Quartz.
“The White House knows the interruption of the Medicaid website portal. We have confirmed that payments have not been affected: they are still being prosecuted and sent, ”wrote the spokeswoman for the White House, Karoline Leavitt, in a publication on X on Tuesday.
Leavitt added that the White House expects the “portal to be online again.”
Trump’s interim director of the Trump Management and Budget Office (WBO), Mathew J. Vaeth, sent a memorandum on Monday to the Federal Department heads that ordered them to stop all financial assistance, including loans and subsidies, to government programs until the agencies can review them to ensure that they align with the executive orders recently issued by Trump that are directed to “Dei, aroused the gender ideology and the new green agreement.”
“This temporary pause will provide the administration time to review the agency’s programs and determine the best uses of the funds for those programs consisting of the law and priorities of the president,” said the memorandum.
The pause is supposed to enter into force today in the 5 PM ET and make exceptions for the benefits of Medicare Social Security; and subsidies and loans assigned for individuals. The agencies have until February 10 to send details about their expenses to the OMB.
Medicaid is a government program that provides health insurance to low -income Americans. As of October, more than 72 million people enrolled in Medicaid.
Freezing critics say it is illegal since the Constitution gives the power of the bag to Congress. Freezing could also be violating the 1974 Embediamment Control Law that establishes the procedures for Congress to review the budget withholdings of the Executive Branch.
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