Senate Set to Approve $16 Billion in Medicaid Funds for States

Written by Leigh Page | August 04, 2010

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The U.S. Senate cleared a decisive hurdle toward passage of $16 billion in federal assistance for state Medicaid programs in a 61-38 cloture vote defeating a Republican-led filibuster, according to Kaiser Health News.

The bill would extend enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) payments to states through the first half of next year.  

The Democrat leadership hopes to pass the bill on Thursday night before the Senate leaves for a five-week summer recess. The bill still needs to be passed by the House, which is already in recess, but there are chances that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) might be able to call the House briefly back into session during the recess.

To widen support for the measure and, Senate Democrats agreed to tax increases and spending cuts that would avoid increasing the budget deficit. That action won the votes of Maine Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe.

Read the Kaiser Health News report on Medicaid.

Read other Becker's coverage on Medicaid funding:

- Senate Considering Medicaid Extension to Avert State Funding Reductions

- Big Medicaid Cuts Possible Next Year, With Federal Support Due to End

- Congress Considering Extending Enhanced Medicaid Funding for States

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