Health Equity
Medicaid Enrollment Touches 39% of the Residents of The District of Columbia; DC’s 70/30 FMAP is Vital for the Maintenance of Health & Human Services
A reduction in the District’s FMAP would not lead to long-term government savings and would have a ripple effect throughout the entire health system in the DMV, crippling access to care for not only Medicaid beneficiaries but also all those who live, work, and visit the District of Columbia, including members of Congress and their staffs.
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Why does DC receive an Enhanced FMAP Rate?
The DC FMAP rate of 70% established by the Revitalization Act resulted from bipartisan analysis, discussion, and negotiation by Congressional leadership aiming to balance fairness with the District’s restricted ability to generate revenue. Congress recognized that the District of Columbia faces unique financial challenges due to its non-state status and the significant amount of federally-owned land within its boundaries. The District is unable to tax non-residents’ earnings, so these workers pay no taxes to support the infrastructure and services, such as roads, public safety and emergency services that they benefit from in the District. The District is also unable to tax up to 40% of the real property within its borders due to statutory restrictions.
Why are we concerned about DC's FMAP now?
Members of Congress have proposed reducing the DC FMAP to the statutory minimum for all other states, which is currently 50% (but could be reduced even more). Such a change would impact every physician and every practice, regardless of type, location, and payers contracted. Even practices who take no insurance will not be able to send patients for specialist care, hospital admissions, or other types of care.
What can MSDC members do?
- If you know a member of Congress or staffer, reach out to them and share how DC cuts will hurt your patients.
- Share your relationships and outreach with hay@msdc.org so we can help coordinate advocacy efforts.
- Email hay@msdc.org if you would like to be paired with a physician member of Congress office and trained by MSDC staff on how to reach out.
Resources
- DC FMAP cut fact sheet
- California Medical Association fact sheet on Medicaid cuts
- MSDC and healthcare association letter to Congress arguing against DC FMAP changes.
- MSDC original story on Medicaid changes.
News, Statements, and Testimony on Health Equity Issues
DC Moves Away From Quarantine List To Aggressive Testing For Travel
On Thursday, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the District was updating its travel advisory to encouraging testing when entering the District.
Since July, the District has released lists of states with a certain positive test thresholds for COVID-19. Visitors from those states, or residents returning from a visit to those states, were asked to quarantine for 14 days unless they met narrow exceptions. The list, updated every 2 weeks and exempting Maryland and Virginia, had reached 42 states.
At her press conference, the Mayor updated the travel advisory. For visitors coming into DC, visitors are asked to get a test before travelling. If the person is visiting for more than 72 hours, they are asked to get tested upon arriving. If they test positive, or are a close contact of a positive case, they are asked not to visit the District.
There will not be enforcement at the District's borders, as some states are considering. However, private businesses are permitted to ask for a record of a negative COVID test before allowing visitors into a facility as well as ask about travel history. The same exemptions for the quarantine travel list apply for travel restrictions.
DC residents who are returning to work from a high risk state are now asked to self-monitor and limit daily activities for 14 days, OR limit their daily activities until they receive a negative COVID test. Those performing "essential work" are exempt.
At the same press conference, the Mayor announced a new partnership with LabCorp to provide District residents with at-home COVID testing.
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