ACAP Urges Activity on FMAP to Stimulate Economy

ACAP Circulates Action Alert Urging FMAP Fix 

ACAP has urged member health plans in an Action Alert to encourage their Senators and Representatives to lean on House and Senate leadership to include an FMAP fix in the economic stimulus legislation currently under development.  The Alert stated that ACAP members should call members of Congress immediately and references the 2003 FMAP increase as a model, which raised FMAP by a specified number of percentage points for all states and barred states from reducing Medicaid eligibility as a condition of receiving the enhanced FMAP.  

Although political rumor tells us that FMAP may not survive negotiations, it is critical that Medicaid supporters promote the policy, since the difficult budget choices faced by states are likely to impact Medicaid enrollees, providers and health plans.  ACAP members can reach their Senators’ and Representatives’ offices through the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or by visiting www.senate.gov or www.house.gov. 

ACAP Sends Letter to Congress Promoting FMAP Increase

ACAP worked with other members of the Partnership for Medicaid to develop a letter urging Congress to include the FMAP increase in the economic stimulus package.  Addressed to all Senators and Representatives, the letter asks Congress to recognize the counter-cyclical nature of Medicaid such that increasing numbers of individuals need the program as states’ ability to pay for it diminishes. 

Other Partnership for Medicaid members include the National Association of Community Health Centers, National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, and Clinicians for the Underserved.

2008 Policy Goals

In 2008, ACAP will continue to build relationships with Congress and the Administration to educate them on the value of Medicaid managed care and safety net health plans.  ACAP will also broaden its strategy for the Drug Rebate Equalization Act of 2007 by working with the Budget Committees in both Chambers and with the Congressional Budget Office to promote the Drug Rebate Equalization Act as a Federal saver, while continuing to work with the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce Committees, and rank and file legislators in states inhabited by ACAP plans.  Finally, ACAP will work with Congress to stress the advantages of safety net Special Needs Plans in the Medicare program, and to inform them of the practical impacts of the recently-enacted SNP moratorium.  

2007 Policy Goals

Support the Medicaid Prescription Drug Rebate Equalization Act of 2007

Inform legislators that the DRE:

• Saves $2.3 billion in the Medicaid program over ten years.
• Protects Medicaid from pharmacy carve-outs that harm quality-of-care.
• Does no harm to Medicaid enrollees.
• Urge Congress to support and cosponsor the bills (H.R. 3041, S. 1589).
• Ask Congress to encourage leadership to include rebate expansion in House/Senate SCHIP Conference agreement.
• Tell Congress to oppose section  812 (increases rebate from 15% to 22%), unless H.R. 3041 is included.

Reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program Before September Ends

• Urge Congress to support CHAMP (H.R. 3162) and the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 976).
• Ask Congress to fund SCHIP with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Equalization Act of 2007 (H.R. 3041/S.1589) in the SCHIP Conference agreement.
• Encourage members to protect children and families by:
  • Preserving and expanding eligibility options for children and parents.
  • Expanding SCHIP dental health and mental health services.
  • Passing “express lane eligibility.”
  • Fixing onerous DRA citizenship documentation provisions.
  • Reversing the restriction on Medicaid & SCHIP coverage for legal immigrants.
  • Creating a MedPAC-type entity to review payments and access for Medicaid and SCHIP.
  • Protecting states (“qualifying states”) that extended coverage to more   children before SCHIP.

Reauthorize Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans

• Support reauthorization of the Medicare Advantage SNP program.
• Establish requirements for SNP plans to ensure they have the capabilities and experience to care for special needs individuals.
• Require dual eligible SNPs to have:
  • Complex care capability to meet duals health needs;
  • The ability to link beneficiaries with community-based social services;
  • The ability to assist beneficiaries in coordinating Medicare, Medicaid and social services through the plan.
• Support section 431 in the House CHAMP bill (H.R. 3162) to reauthorize MA SNPs and establish requirements that ensure SNPs have the capabilities to serve special needs individuals (not included in Senate SCHIP bill).