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 Health Announces COVID Vaccine "Office Hours"
The below is a message sent from the DC Department of Health (DC Health) to DC physicians this weekend.
DC Department of Health (DC Health) invites healthcare providers, who will be administering COVID-19 vaccine, to participate in a series of virtual Office Hour sessions, Tuesday, December 8 – Thursday, December 10, 2020. The purpose of these sessions is to provide key information and available resources to support providers in COVID-19 Vaccine planning and implementation at their respective facilities.
You will have an opportunity to ask questions during Q & A sections of each session. However, we encourage you to submit your questions in advance to: covid-19.vaccine@dc.gov, include “Office Hours” in the subject line.
You may register for one or all sessions at: https://octo.quickbase.com/db/bitz4p6y2 and by following the steps below:
- On the registration page, click on the blue banner below the session of choice.
- In the last column on the right, click on the gray tab marked “Add Training Request.”
- On the next page, complete the required fields (*). In the field marked “Agency/Office” use the drop-down menu to go to the bottom of the list to add your agency's name.
- Click on the green button marked “Save & close.” You will automatically be registered.
- Repeat steps 1 - 4 to register for each session.
All registrants will receive a WebEx meeting confirmation prior to their session. Please share this invitation with your staff or colleagues who will be participating in COVID-19 Vaccination administration and reporting for the District. Below is a daily agenda for your convenience.
Daily Agenda
Day 1 – Tuesday, December 8, 2020 (1:00 pm)
COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Updates and Provider Enrollment
Day 2 – Wednesday, December 9, 2020 (12 Noon)
COVID-19 Vaccine Ordering and Management
Day 3– Thursday, December 10, 2020 (12 Noon)
COVID-19 Vaccine Administration and Reporting
If you need additional information, please contact us at: covid-19.vaccine@dc.gov.
Thank you for your commitment and partnership with DC Health, as we work collaboratively to implement the COVID-19 Vaccine Plan for the District of Columbia.
Sincerely,
DC Health COVID-19 Vaccine Planning Team
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