American Samoa is to receive $87.8 million in Medicaid funding for Fiscal Year 2022. That’s an increase from current year funding of $85.5 million. In FY2020, the territory received $86.3 million.
Medicaid Director Sandra King-Young and directors of Medicaid in the other territories were notified of their FY2023 in a September 24 letter by Deputy Administrator and Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Daniel Tsai.
He said the federal allotments for each of the territories were based on the statutory language of the Social Security Act.
The federal match for Medicaid funds which is currently 89% due to the Covid pandemic reverts back to 55% as of Oct 1st, if there’s no further action by Congress.
In recent testimony before the House, Medicaid Director King Young said the territory can increase the federal match for Medicaid if it moves to individual enrollment vs the current presumptive enrollment.
She said presumptive enrollment was the favored option when American Samoa joined Medicaid in 1982, when its population of 30,000 included 13% of people born outside the territory. Only US nationals and citizens qualify for Medicaid.
Now the foreign population is about 45-50%. King-Young said presumptive enrollment reduces the federal match to cover those who are ineligible for Medicaid, that is foreign born individuals receiving health care in the territory.
