Testimony of Matt Salo Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce

Chairman Pitts, Ranking Member Green, and members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today on a crucial topic for our nation’s health care delivery system.

Intro

My name is Matt Salo, and I am the Executive Director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD). NAMD is a bipartisan, nonprofit, professional organization representing leaders of state Medicaid agencies across the country. Our members drive major innovations in health care while overseeing Medicaid, which is the nation’s health care safety net. NAMD serves as the voice for state Medicaid directors in national policy discussions, supports state-driven policies and practices that strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of Medicaid and actively monitors emerging issues in Medicaid and health care policy.

Medicaid is the nation’s most vital health care safety net program, providing health coverage for more than 70 million Americans. The program, which is on track to spend $560 billion this year, is jointly funded by federal and state governments, but administered by states under broad federal standards.

Medicaid provides health coverage to millions across America, including eligible children, pregnant women, low-income families, elderly adults, people with chronic conditions and people with physical, developmental or behavioral needs. Medicaid funds close to 50 percent of all births and is the primary payer of long-term care in this country. Medicaid also provides most of the nation’s funding for HIV/AIDS-related treatments and mental health services, among other forms of health care. More than 40 percent of Medicaid spending is aimed at addressing the shortfalls of the Medicare program for individuals dually eligible for both.