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
MSDC to Host Two COVID-19 Virtual Town Halls
MSDC and local partners will be holding a joint "virtual" townhall on Saturday, March 14 at 8 AM and again on Monday, March 16 at 12 PM.
DC area physicians have had the opportunity to receive practice updates on calls from the Center for Disease Control and DC Health. This townhall is your chance to discuss the information from those calls and to share with MSDC what remaining questions you have.
On this virtual townhall, you will have the opportunity to:
- Hear from local physicians leaders what they are seeing and hearing from their memberships on the COVID-19 response
- Tell MSDC and physician organizations what questions you still have about a COVID-19 response
- Highlight major issues you or your practice are seeing and how MSDC and medical organizations can help
- MSDC and local medical societies are offering this opportunity for you to talk with your peers and let us know what you need from organized medicine in this uncertain time.
Please note, MSDC cannot promise answers to all your questions. To assist with some answers, we are advertising the government programs prior to this event AND we will be collecting the discussion items from the townhall to use in continuing to gather information.
Saturday event information here.
Monday event information here.
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