WASHINGTON—The following is a statement from AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer Nancy LeaMond on Stewart v. Azar and Gresham v. Azar:

“AARP is heartened by yesterday’s court rulings blocking Kentucky and Arkansas from imposing barriers to continue receiving Medicaid benefits. 

“Medicaid is a critical safety net for millions of low-income adults, children, pregnant women, older adults and people with disabilities. The objective of the Medicaid program is solely for states to provide medical assistance for people ‘whose income and resources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical services.’ Medicaid beneficiaries should not be subject to barriers that restrict access to health care that are inconsistent with the Medicaid statute.  

“AARP welcomes this court decision that helps protect those most in need of access to health care.”

Read the AARP Foundation’s amicus in Stewart v. Azar: https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/litigation/2019/Stewart-v-Azar.pdf

# # #

About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Media Contact: Greg Phillips, 202-434-2560, gphillips@aarp.org, @AARPMedia