Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

The Senate voted Wednesday to end debate on a bill that would extend $16.1 billion in Medicaid assistance to states in 2011. The chamber is set to vote today on the package.

Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine provided the Republican votes needed to achieve a super-majority and pass the legislation. Under the bill, states will receive 3.2% in additional federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) funding from this January to March, and 1.2% from April to June. The FMAP funding increase initially was slated to be 6.2%. The Medicaid funding is part of H.R. 1586, the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. 

If the Senate passes the bill, the House, which is on recess until mid-September, still will have to vote on it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) confirmed via Twitter that she would recall the House for a vote on the Medicaid funding.