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
CDC Study Shows 1 in 5 Adults Sought Mental Health Treatment in 2020
Considering the stress on society and healthcare in 2020, it should come as no surprise that American adults were more likely to seek mental health treatment last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The survey data came from the annual National Health Interview Survey. NHIS is, "a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Interviews are typically conducted in respondents’ homes, but follow-ups to complete interviews may be conducted over the telephone."
The survey found that 20.3% of respondents had received mental health treatment in the past 12 months, including 16.5% who had taken medication for their mental health and 10.1% who received counseling. That is a slight increase from 2019 when 19.2% of adults sought treatment, 15.8% took prescription medication, and 9.5% received counseling or therapy.
The survey also divided the respondents by different demographic types:
- The age 18-44 age demographic was most likely to seek mental health treatment, but the age 45-64 demographic was more likely to specifically seek prescription treatment.
- Women were more likely than men to seek mental healthy treatment, 25.6% to 14.6%
- Non-Hispanic white adults were most likely to receive mental health treatment ( 24.4%) versus non-Hispanic Black (15.3%), Hispanic (12.6%) and non-Hispanic Asian (7.7%)
- Respondents were more likely to seek mental health treatment the more rural their place of residence is, but the respondents most likely to seek counseling were large metropolitan dwellers.
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