Governor's lobbying comes after JCF executive director speaks out against Medicaid funding parity for the island
Pedro R. Pierluisi traveled to the Federal Capital to lobby for equal treatment in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program.
Pierluisi's trip comes after statements by the executive director of the Fiscal Control Board (JCF), Natalie Jaresko, in which although she favored a fair or equitable treatment for the island, she did not favor parity of funds, warning that the island is not prepared to offer all services.Pierluisi described Jaresko's words as unacceptable.
During his trip to Washington, D. C., the governor will participate in meetings in Congress. During his trip to Washington, D.C., the governor will participate in meetings in Congress in preparation for September 30, 2021, the deadline for both the House and Senate to provide an allocation of funds to Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and avoid the "fiscal cliff.
Last week Pierluisi sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to permanently correct the unequal treatment Puerto Rico receives in the federal contribution to the island's Medicaid program. The letter stresses that, although Congress limited the allocation of funds to the program and the matching rate it receives from the federal government, for the past decade it has provided temporary increases above the established allocations due to the clear insufficiency of funds to meet Puerto Rico's medical needs.
In the letter, Pierluisi insists that Puerto Rico's healthcare program is underfunded when compared to smaller states with higher per capita incomes. The letter adds that this has contributed to the prevalence of chronic diseases and the lack of medical infrastructure in Puerto Rico.
"I urge Congressional leaders to craft a permanent solution that corrects the disparities in Puerto Rico's Medicaid program and provides the same access to health care that exists across our nation. Puerto Rico deserves to have state-like treatment in the Island's Medicaid program, and anything less than that represents discrimination against our Island's most vulnerable citizens simply because of their geographic location. We need a long-term solution to this problem," stated the Governor.
The President warned that failure to fund the Medicaid program could result in the disenrollment of hundreds of thousands of current Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition, it could lead to reductions in benefits, interruptions in the financing of the hepatitis C program, cuts in other health programs and the reduction of payments to providers, which will increase the drain of doctors and beneficiaries and continue to weaken the already fragile health care system in Puerto Rico.
The Governor shared with Congressional leaders the document "Puerto Rico Medicaid: State-Like Treatment to Avoid the Fiscal Cliff," a document that describes the overall impact that the limited and reduced federal assistance percentage (FMAP) has on the island's Medicaid program, in contrast to the treatment received by a state.
"While recent increases in funding allocations have been extremely beneficial, they have prevented sustainable improvements and have placed a greater burden on our Medicaid program than that placed on other states. We must find a permanent solution to ensure adequate funding allocations to address the Island's medical needs. I am confident that members of Congress will succeed in resolving the funding shortfall for our Medicaid program, and that they agree with me and President Biden that the best solution will be to extend equal treatment to Puerto Rico's Medicaid program," he concluded.
The chief executive will be in Washington, D.C., from today until June 25, so Secretary of Justice Domingo Emanuelli will serve as acting governor.