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ACAP Statement on Congressional Letter to HHS Asking for Medicaid Relief Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, (202) 204-7515; jvanness@communityplans.net
ACAP STATEMENT ON CONGRESSIONAL LETTER TO HHS ASKING FOR MEDICAID RELIEF FUNDS
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) released the following statement today in support of a letter sent by Congressional leaders to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking for a dedicated distribution of COVID-19 relief funds to Medicaid providers.
“ACAP applauds Congressional leaders for their letter to HHS.
“We support their view that a dedicated distribution of funding enacted in the CARES Act and Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Acts be made to Medicaid-dependent providers as quickly as possible.
“In May, we called on HHS to provide a month’s worth of revenues – about $47 billion – to all Medicaid providers through a distribution through states, through Medicaid managed care plans, or through a combination of the two.
“Given the real data challenges in providing aid fairly to Medicaid-focused providers, we urge HHS to make use of the assistance offered by Medicaid managed care plans, which contract directly with Medicaid providers and maintain current data on them.
“A stable Medicaid program is necessary not only to protect access to care for the duration of this public health crisis but also to support the nation’s recovery. It has been more than two months since the CARES Act was signed into law, and Medicaid-focused providers have yet to see any dedicated aid as a result. We call on HHS to distribute the funds necessary for plans to do so; ACAP and its member Safety Net Health Plans are ready to assist in any way needed.”
About ACAP
The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) is a national trade association representing 76 not-for-profit Safety Net Health Plan. Collectively, ACAP plans serve more than 20 million people through Medicaid, Medicare, the individual Marketplaces, and other publicly-supported coverage programs, including nearly one-third of all individuals covered in Medicaid managed care. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.