Washington, D.C. -- Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) today (Thursday, Jan. 14) joined 4 of his colleagues to call for an extension of the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which would result in $430 million in additional funding to support Medical Assistance, the state’s Medicaid program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $87 billion in fiscal relief to states through an increase in FMAP funds. This relief helped stabilize state and local economies and protected against deep job losses during the recession. It is set to terminate Dec. 31, 2010, when the recession adjustment period ends.
“Minnesota can’t afford to lose $430 million in the middle of one of the toughest economic periods we’ve seen as a state,” said Sen. Franken. “Medicaid relief has been a very effective source of economic stability during this time of uncertainty and I’ll fight to make sure we don’t have to do without it.”
Sen. Franken made his case in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that was also signed by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Sen. Franken has also called for improved payment rates for health care providers who participate in Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program. Inadequate Medicaid payment rates often result in physicians limiting the number of Medicaid patients they will accept or not accepting them at all.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $87 billion in fiscal relief to states through an increase in FMAP funds. This relief helped stabilize state and local economies and protected against deep job losses during the recession. It is set to terminate Dec. 31, 2010, when the recession adjustment period ends.
“Minnesota can’t afford to lose $430 million in the middle of one of the toughest economic periods we’ve seen as a state,” said Sen. Franken. “Medicaid relief has been a very effective source of economic stability during this time of uncertainty and I’ll fight to make sure we don’t have to do without it.”
Sen. Franken made his case in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) that was also signed by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
Sen. Franken has also called for improved payment rates for health care providers who participate in Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program. Inadequate Medicaid payment rates often result in physicians limiting the number of Medicaid patients they will accept or not accepting them at all.
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