HHS released a new
report showing how the health reform law has provided or offered $2.8 billion in funding to help states improve healthcare benefits.
In the report, HHS included a breakdown of funds that have been allocated—or announced—for a host of programs, including $19 million for states to combat fraud; more than $296 million to begin creating state insurance exchanges; and more than $173 million in infrastructure and capacity, which accounts for areas such as state health workforce needs and public health training.
The seven-page report comes a month after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and a week after House members approved a massive spending bill that included several amendments to
defund the law. “Such action would take away precious resources from states at a time of fiscal challenge and leave their citizens with fewer choices, higher costs, and less protection,” according to the HHS report.