Medicaid Program; State Flexibility for Medicaid Benefit

I am writing in reference to CMS-2232-P, regarding state flexibility for Medicaid benefit packages. I am a social worker at DaVita dialysis in Fargo, ND and part of my job is to assist patients with transportation resources. It would be devistating for many of my patients to have their transportation assistance from their Medicaid benefits cut. In fact I have several patients who would not be able to get to dialysis without this benefit. Dialysis is a life saving procedure that needs to be done on a regular basis in order for kidney patients to live a fulfilling and productive life. With dialysis many people are able to continue working and contribute to the community. Cutting transportation programs for these individuals will result in increased costs to state Medicaid programs by inhibiting regular dialysis treatments and increasing the need for emergency care. Please reconsider CMS- 2232-P.