America's Health Insurance Plans Echo MMAPA's Calls For A Federal Funding Solution To Medicaid Shortfalls In Puerto Rico
Following A Short-Term Federal Funding Extension, Puerto Rico Seeks Permanent Parity With States
October 23, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico (MMAPA), a non-profit organization composed of the leading Medicaid and Medicare Advantage organizations in Puerto Rico, applauds America's Health Insurance Plans' (AHIP) call for a long-term solution to federal Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico. Matthew Eyles, AHIP's President and CEO, recently sent a letter to congressional leadership, urging Congress "to pass critical long-term funding for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program, thereby ensuring the greater stability and sustained availability of health care services for the island's residents."
Jim O'Drobinak, president of MMAPA, reinforced MMAPA's support for this effort, saying, "While we are grateful to Congress for voting to extend increased federal support for Puerto Rico through late November, the underlying threat remains; hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens on the island are at risk of losing their health care coverage once that funding runs out. We echo AHIP's calls on Congress to incorporate greater long-term federal funding for Puerto Rico in its budget later this year. We urge our federal leaders to enact a comprehensive solution that eliminates the deeply engrained disparities facing Medicaid and Medicare patients on the island."
Last month, Congress passed a short-term funding stopgap, temporarily maintaining federal funding for Puerto Rico's Medicaid program. If Congress fails to enact a permanent solution by November 21, 2019, the island's Medicaid funding will be slashed by nearly half—endangering the health care of thousands of Medicaid beneficiaries.
About MMAPA
The Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico (MMAPA) is a non-profit organization composed of the leading Medicaid and Medicare Advantage organizations in
Puerto Rico. Founded in 2009, MMAPA is dedicated to promoting policy solutions to solve
Puerto Rico's health care challenges. Follow MMAPA on Twitter at @mmapapr or visit our website, mmapapr.org.
Media Contact:
Meghan Pennington
Hamilton Place Strategies
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