Washington, DC — Today, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) along with Senate Democrats introduced the Coronavirus Medicaid Response Act, a bill that expedites support for state Medicaid programs as more Americans are unemployed and more urgently need access to health care as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Specifically the bill will create an automated process to increase the Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) in states as unemployment levels increase, enabling states to receive federal assistance through a quicker process while providers get additional support as Medicaid rolls increase. In response to the bill, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement:
“Senator Casey and Senate Democrats understand the dire situation so many Americans face when it comes to their health care and have taken much needed action to streamline the Medicaid process so that more people get access to critical care. With so many Americans unemployed as a result of the pandemic, Senate Democrats’ bill will automatically connect states’ Medicaid Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to its unemployment levels, prioritizing quicker Medicaid assistance to those who have lost their jobs. Democrats are making clear that their top priority when it comes to health care is to make it swifter and easier for Americans to access the care they need especially during this crisis, unlike President Trump and Republicans who are dead set on ripping it away.”