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 Member Profile: Dr. Raymond Tu
1. Why do you belong to MSDC? What made you join, and what keeps you engaged?
While on the DC Board of Medicine I observed first-hand how the medical society advocates for District physicians and our patients. Your Medical society provides health care, policy, political, public health, and financial voices for us and adds relevance to the tools in our doctor bag needed to blend science and medicine so we can provide quality care to our District residents.
2. If you could have dinner with any historical figure (medical or otherwise), who would it be and what would you ask them?
While Chief Medical Officer of a District Medicaid Plan attending many community events, I saw our impact with the community come to life as Vice President Hubert Humphrey authored years ago: the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped. Dinner with Vice President Humphrey and having a conversation to learn how his belief became a legislative reality that government has the responsibility to provide healthcare to those in need would be amazing.
3. What's one piece of advice you would give to a physician just starting their practice in the DC area?
The best advice I would give to a physician is to join MSDC, become involved, become an influencer-in-chief of the processes by which we all practice and care for our patients.
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