Sen. Jay D. Rockefeller (D-WV)

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and 25 other senators are drawing providers’ praise for their call for a temporary increase in states’ Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).  

Rockefeller’s letter to heads of Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and ranking member Charles Grassley (R-IA) urges the addition of “at least $15 billion” to state’s FMAP in the forthcoming economic relief package. This money can be used to help alleviate the strain on state’s budgets, especially as they relate to Medicare and Medicaid, thus protecting seniors’ access to vital healthcare programs in the event of economic downturn.   

The House passed a $150 billion relief package on Tuesday. The Senate has been considering a different version.