Medicaid provides health and long-term care coverage to more than 59 million Americans, including many people living with disabilities. With the rise in unemployment during troubled economic times, more Americans rely on Medicaid to help cover their health care costs. At the same time of enrollment growth, state budget pressures swell as revenues decline.
To help avoid drastic cuts to health services, the Recovery Act provided significant assistance to state-run Medicaid programs. This fiscal relief prevented harmful budget cuts, saved jobs and protected the healthcare coverage of those in need. The economic situation remains dire, however, and since states are currently planning their FY 2011 budgets, Congress must take immediate action to extend federal Medicaid assistance.
There is great support for extending federal Medicaid assistance. In March, the Senate passed a six-month extension of the Recovery Act's enhanced federal Medicaid match. The House just passed a similar bill, but the Medicaid provision was removed. It is up to the Senate to quickly correct this omission.
Call your Senators today using this toll-free phone number: 1-888-340-6521. Click here to learn more and receive talking points.
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