To protect health coverage and critical state public services during the public health and economic crises, Congress must substantially increase the share of Medicaid costs paid by the federal government.
Congress reconvenes on July 20. Call Senator Brown and Senator Portman to ask them to support:
An increase of at least 14 percentage points in each state’s FMAP (the share of a state’s Medicaid costs paid for by the federal government);
Extending the FMAP increase until unemployment goes down to pre-recession levels and state budgets recover; and
Continuing strong maintenance-of-effort (MOE) protections that prevent cuts to coverage.
The Problem
COVID-19 has created an interlocking health and economic crisis that is affecting people in every corner of our state. Ohio’s Medicaid program is critical to ensuring that Ohioans can get through this recession and continue to get the health care they need—especially as the COVID-19 virus surges.
But Ohio’s Medicaid program, and the overall state budget, is at risk. Ohio faces a $2.1 billion budget shortfall after suffering huge losses of sales and income taxes because stores had to close to slow the spread of the virus and people have less income. At the same time, with more people losing their jobs and health insurance, the need for Medicaid insurance coverage has increased — and this will continue as people move in and out of unemployment during the next 18 months (or more) of economic recovery.
Governor DeWine has already cut Medicaid once to try to close part of the state budget shortfall. Unless Congress provides more aid to state Medicaid programs, there could be more cuts to Medicaid in Ohio—and to other parts of the state budget, like education and public transit—and people could lose health coverage right when they need it most.
The Solution
Governors of both parties are calling for Congress to increase federal funding for state Medicaid programs, in addition to more direct aid to states, cities, and towns to help close budget shortfalls and prevent deep budget cuts that will hurt millions of people.
Additional federal support for Medicaid will serve multiple purposes:
It sustains health and economic security for children, people with disabilities, low-income families and seniors;
It will give our state more flexibility to use state dollars for other needs and prevent cuts to programs such as education, job training, public transit, and public works programs;
Additional federal funds flowing into the economy will support economic recovery in every county of the state through the wages and salaries of health care workers; and
It will stabilize the entire health care system and help Ohio avoid harmful cuts to hospitals and providers.
Although Congress took steps to shore up Medicaid in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the FMAP increase provided in that bill is not enough and will end whenever the federal government declares the public health emergency over—even though the recession and people’s needs will go on much longer than that.
Ohioans and health care providers need more certainty. Congress needs to increase the FMAP by at least 14 percentage points for all enrollees for the duration of the recession.
Call or e-mail Senator Brown and Senator Portman and tell them to protect our health care today!
Senator Brown
Phone: (202) 224-2315 Washington D.C. Office
Senator Portman
Phone: (202) 224-3353 Washington D.C. Office
Sample email/telephone script:
As your constituent, I want to thank you for the actions you have taken to support Ohio and the Medicaid program in response to the COVID-19 crisis. As you know, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act included a crucial boost to the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP) and other important health policies. However, more is needed to truly address this health and economic crisis.
I am counting on you to take more action to help our state get through this emergency. As Congress negotiates the next COVID-19 federal response bill, I ask you to support increasing the federal Medicaid match rate by at least 14%, with that increase sustained through the economic downturn and tied to unemployment rather than the public health emergency. Additional federal Medicaid funds flowing into the economy will support economic recovery in every county of the state through the wages and salaries of health care workers, stabilize the entire health care system, and help Ohio avoid harmful cuts to hospitals and providers.
Please support Medicaid, as it is a key piece to keeping our economy going and helping our community recover from COVID-19. A strong Medicaid program not only benefits Ohioans most impacted by the coronavirus crisis, but it protects the state budget as well.
Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to getting Ohio through this crisis.