From the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (http://www.pahealthaccess.org):
The current coronavirus pandemic requires us to stand up for Medicaid again. We urgently need you to take action before this Friday.
In Pennsylvania, unemployment is surging toward a record high and as people lose their jobs and health coverage, over a million Pennsylvanians may now count on Medicaid to get through this crisis. Our state budget is already facing huge revenue shortfalls and Pennsylvania desperately needs additional federal funds. Washington did this during the Great Recession in 2008 and needs to do this again. Without additional funds and strong consumer protections, we could see cuts to Medicaid for everyone, but especially older adults and people with disabilities.
As federal leaders contemplate a fourth stimulus package, it needs to do the following:
- Add an additional increase, beyond the Families First increase, to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage – the share of funds the federal government sends to Pennsylvania in the same way they did during the last recession. This could bring in over $1 billion to Pennsylvania over the next year.
- Continue any increases until the economy truly recovers, not just the end of the public health emergency; and
- Ensure strong protections (“maintenance of effort” requirements) to keep states from cutting coverage while receiving the additional funds.
Please contact your member of congress today at https://pahealth.salsalabs.org/covidfmapcongressaskforpartners/index.html. Members need to hear from local leaders like you NOW.
And if you want to learn more about this topic, here’s our most recent blog post about it.
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