Rosen Co-Sponsors Bill to Support State Medicaid Programs During Economic Crisis Caused by COVID-19

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), announced her co-sponsorship of the Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act, legislation that would respond to the increased need for health care during the coronavirus pandemic by creating a quicker and more responsive process for federal funding of state Medicaid programs.

 

Nevada’s hard-working families should never have to worry about losing access to their health care coverage, let alone during a public health crisis,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m co-sponsoring this common-sense legislation to support state governments so they can continue to provide life-saving coverage to the millions of low-income Americans who rely on Medicaid for their health care needs. I will continue working in Congress to ensure the Silver State has the resources it needs to overcome this pandemic.”

 

BACKGROUND: More specifically, the Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act would create an automatic process that would increase a state’s Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) as unemployment levels increase, enabling states to receive needed aid in a more timely manner and through a streamlined process. As a state’s economy improves, the FMAP bump would subside – thus federal aid would ebb and flow with a state’s economy.

Currently, states must rely on Congress to provide these increases, which often delays their enactment and can force states to make tough financial choices that include cutting jobs and reducing health care coverage.    

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