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GAO-07-694R 1 (2007-07-24)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptavfv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Sai Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 July 24, 2007 The Honorable Henry A. Waxman Chairman Committee on Oversight and Government Reform House of Representatives The Honorable John D. Dingell Chairman Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives The Honorable Frank J. Pallone, Jr. Chairman Subcommittee on Health Committee on Energy and Commerce House of Representatives The Honorable Sherrod Brown United States Senate Subject: Medicaid Demonstration Waivers: Lack of Opportunity for Public Input during Federal Approval Process Still a Concern States provide health care coverage to about 60 million low-income individuals through Medicaid, a joint federal and state program established under title XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act). Title XIX of the Act established parameters under which states operate their Medicaid programs, such as requiring states to cover certain services for certain mandatory groups of individuals such as low-income children; pregnant women; and aged, blind, or disabled adults.' The Secretary of Health and Human Services, however, possesses authority to allow states to depart from these requirements under certain conditions. Under section 1115 of the Act, the Secretary may waive certain Medicaid requirements and authorize Medicaid expenditures for experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects that are likely to assist in promoting Medicaid objectives. Medicaid section 1115 demonstration projects vary in scope, from targeted demonstrations, which are limited to specific services and populations, to comprehensive demonstrations, which affect Medicaid populations statewide, cover a broad range of services, and account for the majority of a state's Medicaid 'See Social Security Amendments of 1965, Pub. L. No. 89-97, § 121, 79 Stat. 286, 343-352 (1965) (adding new sections 1901-1905 and amending sections 1109, 1115 of the Social Security Act, codified, as amended, at 42 U.S.C. §§ 1309, 1315, 1396-1396d). GAO-07-694R Medicaid Demonstration Approvals