The stimulus bill called for $87 billion in additional Medicaid funding for 27 months, meaning without a measure to extend it, the funding would expire at the end of 2010, according to the report. The current Senate measure will extend that date for six more months.
Although it approved a similar extension in the jobs bill passed in December, the House must approve the measure with the same language as in the Senate’s bill, according to the report. The timing of the House’s consideration is unclear, but the measure is supported by the President.
The Department of Health and Human Services has already provided some aid by announcing $4.3 billion in leftover stimulus funds that will help reduce states’ payments to the federal government for Medicare prescription drug costs, according to the report.
Read the AMNews report on the Medicaid funding extension.
