6.29.12 A Congressional conference report on the transportation bill was released earlier today. The report includes a significant change in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) increase for disaster recovery states, which determines how much states receive in federal assistance for state programs such as Medicaid. The conference report moves forward the ending date for Louisiana to receive enhanced FMAP funding for Medicaid. The enhanced funding was set to expire on October 1, 2013; the new date is October 1, 2012. If passed this will impact the FY13 state budget and Medicaid, however, no one (including Louisiana's Department of Health and Hospitals) knows exactly what that means just yet. However, we do know Louisiana will receive fewer FMAP dollars, which will impact the state’s Medicaid budget for FY13 beginning on July 1. The LSMS will share details on what this means for physicians and patients as soon as they are available.

Each member of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation was asked to share their thoughts on the legislation. Official comments we received today are included below:

Congressman Cassidy says, “I am actively engaged in this developing situation. There are both positive and negative aspects of this bill as a whole. I am working with Leadership to attempt to negate the cuts to our FMAP without jeopardizing the RAMP and RESTORE Acts and also provisions for flood insurance and transportation infrastructure.”

 

Congressman Scalise says, “I am disappointed that House and Senate leaders included a provision in the transportation bill that takes FMAP funding already budgeted for Louisiana and spends it on unrelated transportation projects, especially when this same bill includes billions of dollars for critical coastal restoration work and a long-term flood insurance extension for Louisiana residents.”
 
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