Aumua optimistic about lifting cap on Medicaid

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September 2019 is the deadline for American Samoa to use Medicaid funds of up to $150 million which were made available under the American Affordable Care Act from the Obama administration.

This funding has been made available since 2011.

Congresswoman Aumua Amata says American Samoa and the Virgin Islands have not been able to use their funding because they lack matching funds.

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The congresswoman says she has been searching for an appropriate legislative vehicle to attract appropriations for the match but there are challenges.

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Aumua meanwhile is working on an amendment to the formula for awarding Medicaid funds for American Samoa and also raising the ceiling on how much we receive each year.

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The congresswoman says there’s a chance that Congress later this year will pass an emergency supplemental funding for states and territories that have been devastated by natural disasters such as Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Florida and Texas.

She has asked that American Samoa be included in this relief package because of the effects of Tropical Storm Gita.

If approved this  would reduce the local matching for Medicaid from 50% to 17% while the federal government pays 80%.