ADA News
Coalition urges six-month Medicaid funding extension
Washington—Patients are the first to feel the impact of funding cuts, says an ADA-supported coalition ad urging Congress to extend federal Medicaid matching funds through June 30, 2011.
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The 16-organization full-page advertisement appears in the May 20 issue of Roll Call, "The Newspaper of Capitol Hill Since 1955," which publishes primarily on the days Congress is in session. "Whose quality care can you help protect?" the ad asks.
"The federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) is providing needed financial assistance to state Medicaid programs, allowing millions of low-income Americans to receive the quality care they need and deserve. During these tough economic times, when state Medicaid programs are underfunded and state Governors are asking for federal support, patients are the first to feel the impact of funding cuts."
The 2009 economic stimulus law provided Medicaid emergency relief funding that is due to expire Dec. 31, 2010, and states are currently preparing their 2011 budgets.
The ADA is the only dental organization among hospital, long-term care, medical specialty and other groups supporting the advertisement.
