Congresswoman Mary E. Miller | Official U.S. House headshot
Congresswoman Mary E. Miller | Official U.S. House headshot
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra told U.S. Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) that the Biden Administration is blocking Medicare and Medicaid funds from hospitals refusing to perform child genital mutilation surgeries.
Becerra made the statement during an exchange with Miller in a House Education Hearing with the Health and Human Services Department.
"If a healthcare facility is violating the law (by) not (performing child genital mutilation surgeries) they're required to, they are not entitled to the resources,” Becerra said. “We withdraw federal funding."
As of May 6, 2024, the American Hospital Association reported that "96% of hospitals have 50% of their inpatient days paid by Medicare and Medicaid, and more than 82% of hospitals have 67% Medicare and Medicaid inpatient days." With previous years showing smaller payments from Medicare, additional decreases may "threaten access to care for patients," according to the report.
In 2021, Medicare alone accounted for 21% of the total national health spending, and made up 26% of total nationwide spending on hospital care and physician and clinical services, according to a KFF report.
Mary Miller is currently serving in the U.S. Congress, representing Illinois’ 15th district. She replaced previous U.S Congress member John Shimkus in 2021.
Miller graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a BA. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois in 1959. She currently lives in Oakland.
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