Congressman to Governor: We Need State Leadership and Accurate Information on Health Care Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seeking to address concerns and assertions made by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels regarding the new health care reform law, Congressmen André Carson and Baron Hill yesterday sent a letter to the governor with an attached detailed memo drafted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The memo from CMS provides facts addressing specific questions and concerns publicly raised by Governor Daniels, including statements he made last month that the state must begin terminating the Healthy Indiana Plan and that the health care law will have a negative fiscal impact on the state's budget.

"The Governor is certainly entitled to his political viewpoints on the health care reform law-and he's made those opinions very clear. But now that this historic legislation is law, it's important that Hoosiers have factual, accurate information about the health benefits made available through these new provisions." Congressmen Carson and Hill said in a joint statement. "Since the state will be playing a central role in the implementation and success of many of these programs, we wanted to make sure the Governor has accurate information to address the concerns and questions he has raised."

"We look forward to working with the governor to ensure Hoosiers can take full advantage of the health-care-related benefits as they become available in the months ahead. We're confident, as the letter from CMS outlines, that the new health care law will mean greater access to quality, affordable medical care for Hoosiers and fiscal benefits for the State of Indiana."

The letter from CMS addressed to Congressman Carson is attached. Congressman Hill received the same letter as well.

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For a copy of the letter sent from Rep. Carson and Rep. Baron Hill to Governor Daniels, please click on the following link cover_letter_to_gov_daniels_re_hcr_may_2010.pdf .

To read Rep. Carson's responses to important questions related to health care reform, please click on the link carson_signed_response.pdf