Recognizing it is the congressional intent of the Affordable Care Act that enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage funds are to be directly shared with the counties in States with a Medicaid local share requirement.
Impact
The bill's recognition highlights a significant issue in New York State, where the recent state budget reportedly withholds $1 billion in eFMAP funds from counties. Such withholding can severely impact counties' ability to fund necessary services for vulnerable populations, potentially forcing them to increase property taxes to compensate for lost revenue. By addressing this obstruction, HR170 emphasizes the need for states to use these funds to enhance local healthcare services instead of bridging budget deficits.
Summary
House Resolution 170 (HR170) focuses on the congressional intent behind the Affordable Care Act (ACA), specifically regarding the sharing of enhanced Federal medical assistance percentage (eFMAP) funds with counties that operate under a Medicaid local share requirement. It recognizes that these funds are crucial for county governments to provide essential health services, including mental health programs, home care, and long-term care for vulnerable populations. The bill seeks to ensure that counties can receive these funds directly rather than having them absorbed into state budgets.
Contention
Critics of the state budget's approach argue that withholding federal funds undermines the local service delivery that the ACA intended to support. With the escalating costs of Medicaid and the urgent need for services, the resolution calls for states to honor the intention of the ACA by ensuring counties receive their fair share of federal funding. The contention lies primarily in the perceived overreach by state governments in managing these funds, potentially jeopardizing local health service provisions.
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Wildfire Recovery Act This bill makes changes with respect to the federal cost share for Fire Management Assistance Grants and provides that the federal share shall be not less than 75% of the eligible cost. Specifically, the bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct and complete a rulemaking to provide criteria for the circumstances under which FEMA may recommend that the President increase the federal cost share. Such criteria shall include a threshold metric that assesses the financial impact to a state or local government from responding to a fire for which fire management assistance is being provided.
Recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights to protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people under the law and ensure their access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security.
Close the Medigap Act of 2023 This bill (1) expands guaranteed issue rights with respect to Medigap policies (Medicare supplemental health insurance policies), (2) eliminates certain limitations on Medigap policies for newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries, and (3) modifies other provisions related to Medigap policies. (Guaranteed issue rights require that a policy be offered to any eligible applicant without regard to health status.)
Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act of 2023 This bill prohibits all federal health care programs, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and federally funded state health care programs (e.g., Medicaid) from using prices that are based on quality-adjusted life years (i.e., measures that discount the value of a life based on disability) to determine relevant thresholds for coverage, reimbursements, or incentive programs.