Patient Groups Urge Passage of FMAP Extension

The following letter from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association was sent today to members of the Senate on behalf of millions of Americans living with chronic diseases, urging senators to pass the FMAP extension before lawmakers leave for the August recess.  At a time when many states are battling budget crises, the stability of public health funding for the country’s most economically vulnerable depends on supplemental federal Medicaid funding.

August 2, 2010

Dear Senator:

The undersigned organizations represent millions of Americans living with chronic disease, including many who rely exclusively on Medicaid and other safety net programs for their access to critically needed health care services.  Accordingly, we urge you in the strongest terms to vote to extend for an additional six months the federal Medicaid match (FMAP) originally enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). 

With millions of Americans now out of work and without health insurance coverage, and most of the states facing serious pressure to cut public health funding, Medicaid’s safety net is needed more than ever. Every state except Vermont has a balanced budget requirement.  Yet today, states are facing a cumulative budget shortfall of at least $140 billion in fiscal year 2011, coming on top of large shortfalls in each of the past two years. 

Medicaid is one of states’ largest budget items, with low-income families, hospitals, and health care providers depending on reliable federal support. This is especially true during tough economic times as more individuals qualify for Medicaid.  Until now, the ARRA- enhanced FMAP provided funding support that minimized potential cuts in Medicaid.

Allowing the enhanced FMAP to expire on December 31, 2010, in the middle of states’ current fiscal crisis, would be devastating to millions of people and harmful to the many states that have primary responsibility for maintaining Medicaid and public health programs.

We cannot simply turn our back on the most economically vulnerable Americans living with diabetes, heart disease and cancer.  Again, we urge you to vote in favor of extending the FMAP payments to states before the Senate leaves for its August recess.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Diabetes Association
American Heart Association

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Steven Weiss or Alissa Havens
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
202-661-5711 or 202-661-5772
[email protected] or [email protected]