Res. No. 726 Title Resolution calling upon the Congress of the United States to adopt S.138, in relation to temporarily increasing the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for the Medicaid program and block grants to states for social services. Body By Council Members Comrie, Quinn, Barron, Brewer, Felder, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Jackson, Katz, Liu, Monserrate, Nelson, Rivera, Seabrook and Weprin Whereas, The federal government must assist states and localities across the nation in response to the decline in local revenues and the national economy, particularly as such decline effects the provision of health care and social services; and Whereas, State Medicaid programs serve as an important safety net for Americans by providing health and long term care coverage; and Whereas, In New York State, the funding responsibility for Medicaid is broken down as per the following: 50% FMAP funds, calculated by comparing a state's per capita personal income with the national average per-capita income, 25% state funds and 25% county funds; and Whereas, S.138 seeks to temporarily raise the amount of funding states receive from the federal government in order to support their respective Medicaid programs; and Whereas, Under S.138, each eligible state would have its FMAP increased by 2.45 percent for the third and fourth calendar quarters of FY 2003 and each calendar quarter of FY 2004, saving New York an estimated $1.3 billion; and Whereas, Furthermore, this legislation would allow for the substitution of a state's FY 2002 FMAP for the third and fourth calendar quarters of FY 2003, if the FY 2003 FMAP is less than the FMAP for FY 2002; and Whereas, Similarly, states will be able to maintain their FY 2003 FMAP for FY 2004 if a state's FY 2004 FMAP is less than the FY 2003 FMAP; and Whereas, Additionally, the application of the FMAP increases would be prohibited for a state under this Act with respect to: (1) disproportionate share hospital payments under Medicaid; and (2) payments under Social Security Act (SSA) titles IV and XXI (State Children's Health Insurance); and Whereas, Furthermore, S.138 would provide New York with an additional $1.3 billion by amending SSA title XX to increase block grants to states for social services; and Whereas, By raising the FMAP by 2.45% for 18 months and providing for social service block grants, this legislation would help relieve the fiscal crisis faced by our state and city; now, therefore be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Congress of the United States to adopt S.138, in relation to temporarily increasing the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for the Medicaid program and block grants to states for social services. CAW LS# 1788 |1013|