By El Nuevo Día - Washington D. C. - The House Natural Resources Committee House of Representatives will discuss in public hearings on Wednesday the claims in favor of Puerto Rico and the other territories to reach parity with the states in access to the federal programs of MedicaidSupplemental Security Income (SSI) and food assistance.
"The expansion of these programs to residents of the territories is essential to carrying out the mission of promoting equity among underserved communities mandated by President (Joe) Biden," the Committee stated in announcing the public hearing, which will take place via the internet beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Former U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic Delegate Donna Christensen; Judith Solomon of the Center on Budget and Public Policy Priorities; and Northern Mariana Islands House Health Committee Chair Christina Marie Sablan will be among the speakers.
The hearing will take place at a time when the Congress Congress discusses the next allocation of Medicaid funds for Puerto Rico and the other territories.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved a measure that would allocate a total of nearly $15 billion in Medicaid funds to Puerto Rico spread over five years.
Puerto Rico government officials and the healthcare industry have considered that the legislation, although it would avoid a fiscal abyss in the island's healthcare system as of October 1, is insufficient.
On the one hand, they argue, it does not represent parity and involves basically maintaining the same allocations as in past years. Nor does it include language that would allow for an increase for inflation, at a time when health care costs are expected to rise.
In the case of Puerto Rico, the measure maintains the federal contribution for Medicaid services at 76%. Although this is better than the 55% provided by a permanent law, the government of Puerto Rico had demanded that the federal contribution for Medicaid services be raised to 83%, as would be done with the other territories.
While the House legislation provides Puerto Rico with a five-year allocation, the other territories are granted eight years of funding.