by Derek Main
January 4, 2024
HEiTC leaders applaud Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford for asking HHS to reverse Medicare cuts.
The Well being Fairness in Transplantation Coalition (HEiTC), launched in November 2023 by Rev. Al Sharpton and singer Al B. Positive!, is applauding Congressional Black Caucus Chair Steven Horsford (D-NV) for his written enchantment relating to Medicare cuts.
Horsford penned a letter dated Dec. 22 that urged the Biden administration to reverse Medicare cuts that may depart 1000’s of Black, brown, and different transplant recipients and not using a lifesaving blood take a look at that noninvasively detects early indicators of organ transplant rejection.
Within the letter, which Horsford addressed to Well being and Human Providers Secretary Xavier Becerra and Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, he requested them to elucidate why the ruling was made, rescind it, and guarantee there have been no different cutbacks on noninvasive blood assessments, that are capable of catch an organ transplant rejection months upfront.
“We share the Biden Administration’s dedication to closing racial disparities in our well being system,” Horsford wrote. “All of us sit in authorities as a result of we imagine a greater future is feasible by which the kids and grandchildren of our constituents have truthful entry to care. We all know you share our mission of making certain equitable care and admire your consideration to this critically essential matter.”
The cuts have been introduced on March 2 by a non-public “Medicare Administrative Contractor.” It tied Medicare protection to an invasive, dangerous surgical biopsy, which has led to a major drop in using transplant blood assessments resulting from cancellations, delays, or plain confusion as as to if Medicare protection would nonetheless be offered.
HEiTC Govt Chairman Al B. Positive!, who acquired a lifesaving liver transplant in the summertime of 2022, was glad to see Horsford step up for organ transplant recipients.
“After a profitable day of motion on Capitol Hill final month, I and your entire Well being Fairness in Transplantation Coalition are humbled to see Chair Horsford make this name,” mentioned Al B. Positive!. “Tens of 1000’s of organ transplant recipients, a disproportionate share of that are Black and Brown, don’t know at this second if the reward of life they acquired will fail them. All as a result of a non-public contractor was allowed to peel again protection on a life-saving take a look at able to catching a rejection earlier than it occurred. I wish to thank Chair Horsford for being a relentless champion of justice for Black and Brown Individuals, particularly on this second after we want heroes in authorities like him.”
The HeiTC isn’t the one group involved concerning the Medicare cuts. A bunch of 14 bipartisan former and present politicians have additionally urged an finish to the Medicare cuts, together with Reps. Anna Eschoo (D-CA) and Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX), who wrote a follow-up letter urgent for extra solutions on why Medicare contractors rolled again protection with out public remark and thru a billing article.
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