Press Release

Welch, Colleagues Introduce Legislative Package to Improve Medicaid for Kids, Seniors, and Families 

Jun 13, 2025

As Republican Bill Takes Away Health Care from Millions of Americans, Senate Democrats Offer Common Sense Improvements to Medicaid and Empower Federal Watchdogs to Fight Real Fraud 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, this week joined Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and eleven Senate Democrats in filing legislative proposals to strengthen and invest in the Medicaid program for children, seniors, Americans with disabilities and working families. Senator Welch’s Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act, which would expand Medicaid coverage for former foster care youth up to the age of 26, was included as part of Democrats’ legislative package. 

“In the midst of a nationwide affordability crisis, we should do everything in our power to help more folks get the health care they need. Instead, Republicans’ budget cruelly attacks the lives and well-being of families and seniors, ripping health care away from millions–including nearly 20,000 Vermonters on Medicaid. As if slashing funding for Medicaid wasn’t egregious enough, Republicans’ budget will also tank our economy, and it does nothing to combat waste, fraud, and abuse,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senate Democrats in introducing these bills to protect, improve, and expand Medicaid.” 

“The Republican bill is rotten to the core when it comes to health care. Not only does the Republican bill break their promise not to cut benefits for Americans with Medicare and Medicaid, it also fails to accomplish their stated goal of cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse,” said Senator Wyden. “Senate Democrats say there’s a better way: let’s make the Medicaid program work better for moms, kids and seniors while investing in fraud fighters who have a track record of rooting out fraud where it actually occurs, and returning taxpayer dollars where they belong.” 

The legislation comes as congressional Republicans continue to jam their reconciliation through the House and Senate behind closed doors. Republicans falsely claim the bill addresses waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system, but in reality, it rips away affordable health care from millions of Americans without doing anything meaningful on health care fraud.  

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has found that virtually all of the health care cuts in the legislation come as a result of families that count on Medicaid losing their coverage or benefits, not eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. It’s the largest cut to American health care in history, all to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. 

Senator Welch is a cosponsor of every bill introduced this week introduced by Senate Democrats to improve Medicaid: 

  • The Keeping Obstetrics Local Act, legislation to address hospital labor and delivery unit closures by increasing Medicaid payments for eligible rural and high-need hospitals.  
  • The Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Act, legislation to address funding shortfalls and ensure long-term stability of health care fraud, waste and abuse prevention work at HHS, CMS and DOJ, which returns $11 for every $1 invested. 
  • The Stabilize Medicaid and CHIP Coverage Act, legislation to provide continuous eligibility for all individuals enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 12-months.  
  • The HCBS Relief Act, legislation to temporarily increase the federal Medicaid match for home- and community-based services by ten percentage points for two years.  
  • The Advancing Student Services in Schools Today (ASSIST) Act, legislation to increase the federal Medicaid match for mental health and substance use disorder services provided in schools to 90%.  
  • The Expanded Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act, legislation to expand Medicaid coverage for certain former foster care youth up to the age of 26.  
  • The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act, legislation to require Medicaid and Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing.   
  • The Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act, legislation to allow individuals to check eligibility for and enroll in Medicaid or subsidized Affordable Care Act coverage through submitting their federal tax return.  
  • The Disaster Relief Medicaid Act, legislation to ensure that individuals eligible for Medicaid who are forced to relocate due to a disaster are able to continue accessing Medicaid-supported services. 
  • The Maximizing Opioid Recovery Emergency, legislation to enhance coverage for opioid treatment for Medicaid, Medicare, and private health plan enrollees, including increasing the federal Medicaid match for opioid medication treatment to 90%.  
  • The Helping Tobacco Users Quit Act, legislation to require state Medicaid programs to cover tobacco cessation services without cost-sharing.  
  • The State Public Option Act, legislation to give states the option to create a Medicaid buy-in program for state residents regardless of their income.   
  • The Postpartum Lifeline Act, legislation to require state Medicaid programs to provide coverage up to 12-months postpartum.  

Senator Welch has been a leading voice in calling to protect Medicaid and health care in the Senate. Last week, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor to slam Republicans’ tax bill, which will rip away health care coverage for more than 16 million Americans, including 29,000 Vermonters. 

Earlier this month, Senator Welch joined Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) for a virtual roundtable highlighting the harmful consequences of Republicans’ reconciliation bill for patients in Vermont. In May, Senator Welch denounced Republicans disastrous proposed budget plan to limit ACA Premium Tax Credits which help low- and moderate-income Vermonters access health coverage.   

Last month, Senator Welch joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Protect Our Care for a press conference condemning the Republican budget. Senator Welch also recently spoke on the Senate floor about how health care is at risk for millions, and challenged President Trump to join him and Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) in working to lower prescription drug prices through his recently introduced Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act. 

This Congress, Senator Welch has led the introduction of several bills to make health care more accessible and affordable for Vermonters, including the Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, End Price Gouging for Medications Act, Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act, Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, and the Rural Hospital Support Act. 

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