A huge Medicaid funding boost for American Samoa is not ready yet to come to the House floor, though talks are said to be moving ahead on compromise legislation with the Senate. KHJ Washington corr. Matt Kaye reports—
Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen’s office says the Senate is reviewing territorial Medicaid issues thoroughly…and the Senate version of a House committee-passed bill, will have changes.
Oversight and accountability of aid for Puerto Rico, marred by Medicaid scandals, political turmoil and disasters, has slowed progress.
But Congresswoman Amata’s office remains “optimistic” regarding the eventual outcome…especially since top leaders of the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce committees are involved.
The House bill to give American Samoa as much as $84-million Medicaid dollars a year, more than double ASG’s request at a June hearing, was expected to come up in the full House, soon.
But the House and Senate must still agree on spending bills, and uncertainty surrounding numbers and the timing and length of a stop-gap continuing budget measure past September 30th, are all factors.
Congresswoman Radewagen–an original cosponsor of the House Medicaid bill—says the measure will provide “full coverage…and then, nearly full coverage…over the next few years,” plus “a more equitable funding formula commensurate with the states.”
It will also free up “millions” of dollars for LBJ Hospital improvements, expansion and better care…all this by extending a temporary 100% federal match, before gradually stepping down the boost in future years.
