02.20.12 The payroll tax cut bill approved Friday by the House and Senate includes $1 billion in Medicaid money for Louisiana for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, the result of a legislative drafting error that created a Medicaid windfall for the state well beyond what Sen. Mary Landrieu sought when she added the so-called "FMAP fix" to the 2009 health care bill. The deal, however, effectively rescinds another $2.5 billion that the state would have received had the mistake not been corrected.

"From the beginning, it has been clear to all parties that this funding that I secured was a temporary increase to help the state provide for its citizens in the aftermath of catastrophic disasters," Landrieu said after the vote. "Today's proposal -- which I support -- is a responsible end to this special help."

 

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