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SECRETARY DENNIS G. SMITH STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT

MADISON—The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report, Medicaid Expansion: States’ Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis G. Smith today offered the following statement:

“The GAO has confirmed the concerns we have expressed for some time—that the federal government has failed to release a credible plan for meeting the deadlines imposed, by law, to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. States across the country are echoing these same concerns that guidance that is critical to successful implementation continues to be missing.”

“When only six state budget directors view the guidance released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help states implement the Medicaid provisions and 30 state budget directors respond that the guidance is merely “slightly useful” or “not useful at all,” federal officials need to admit there are major problems. The expectation that states should continue to spend taxpayer dollars to implement a law without adequate or clear guidance is a prime example of government waste.”

“Washington needs to face the reality of the situation and be honest with the American people that the deadlines provided in the law will not be met. The GAO report is a clear warning sign that should not be ignored.”

The GAO report can be found here: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-821.

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Last Revised:  August 06, 2012