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
New Advance Care Planning Solution Available March 8 in CRISP DC Portal
We’re pleased to share that CRISP’s Advance Care Planning solution will launch on Wednesday, March 8!
Through an initiative led by the DC Department of Health Care Finance and DC Health, CRISP DC collaborated with A|D Vault to embed its advance care planning platform, called MyDirectives for Clinicians, in the HIE.
MyDirectives for Clinicians integrated in the CRISP DC HIE
This user-friendly platform allows health care providers to create, upload, and view new digital advance care planning forms whenever and wherever they are needed across all patient care teams with access to the DC HIE. The following advance care planning forms are available through the platform:
- DC MOST
- National POLST
- Psychiatric Advance Directive
- Universal Advance Digital Directive (uADD)
Benefits of accessing MyDirectives for Clinicians
- Scan and upload existing advance care planning documents.
- Display forms in the DC HIE anytime and anywhere across the continuum of care.
- Ensure other care teams, such as ambulatory providers and DC Fire and EMS responders, can access this information to honor the patient’s care decisions.
Search and View Advance Directives in the CRISP Care Coordination tab
Any CRISP DC HIE user will be able to search and view their patient’s most current decisions on future, urgent, and end-of-life care planning goals and objectives.
How do I get credentialed to access MyDirectives for Clinicians in CRISP?
Email the CRISP DC team at dcoutreach@crisphealth.org for more information and to begin the MyDirectives for Clinicians onboarding process.
Learn more
CRISP DC will host the following webinars for the purpose of providing demonstrations of the MyDirectives for Clinicians application in the HIE, along with Q & A sessions. Please register at CRISPDC.org/ACP for the session that works best for you.
- Wednesday, March 8: 8 am, 12 pm, 5 pm
- Friday, March 10: 8 am, 12 pm
- Wednesday, April 5: 8 am, 12 pm, 5 pm
- Friday, April 7: 8 am, 12 pm
If your team is unable to attend, recordings and additional information are available at crispdc.org/acp. To get involved or schedule an individual informational session, please contact the CRISP DC Outreach team at dcoutreach@crisphealth.org.
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