The US House of Representatives has passed a continuing resolution which extends Medicaid funding for American Samoa and the other US territories to December 20.
The current stop gap measure expires at midnight tomorrow.
The continuing resolution is expected to be passed by the US Senate and then goes to the President for signing.
Medicaid Director Sandra King Young welcomes the news saying “it means we can pay our bills and it gives us a little relief on the local match for Medicaid.”
Because American Samoa has presumptive eligibility, the Medicaid federal match is 87% and ASG puts up 13% local match for Medicaid.
King Young pointed out that the other territories who have money like Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands will continue to have 100% federal match for Medicaid.
CNMI and Guam finish all their Medicaid funding this week so they have no more Medicaid funds.
King Young remains hopeful for long term Medicaid funding.
“Our prayer right now is for Congress to pass a provision to increase the Medicaid block grant for all territories and giving us a break on the federal local match share,” she stated.
