A coalition of 17 Republican state attorneys general sent a letter last week to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The letter demands that both agencies immediately reinstate the contractual agreement that was made with Maximus — a private call center headquartered in Virginia that handles calls about crucial Medicare and Health Insurance Marketplace information — in 2022.
As reported by Virginia Center Square, HHS and CMS broke a nine-year $6.6 billion contract in December with Maximus and proceeded to solicit bids from other companies. According to a letter from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, “no evidence of any work stoppages at Maximus facilities” exists. The Washington Post reported some workforce unrest at Maximus but mostly positive reviews from callers. Workers have complained about poor work conditions, and some have called for unionization.
Despite the existing contract, HHS and CMS are soliciting a new call center contract with the requirement that the solicitations include a “labor harmony agreement” — a pledge that the bidding company would work with labor unions in the event of labor stoppages. That provision would violate right-to-work laws in many states, including Virginia.
“Virginians deserve to know that their healthcare benefits will be available at all times and not hindered by Biden-Harris pro-union policies,” Miyares said. “I urge HHS and CMS to realize that catering their policies towards unions does not make life easier for the everyday American.”
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Rebecca Barnabi
