Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), along with 23 colleagues, is calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to keep Medicaid expansion incentives in the Build Back Better Act.  The request comes after reports that Congressional Leadership is considering repealing the Medicaid expansion incentives passed in the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year.  In a letter to Congressional Leadership, the Members wrote:

“As Members from 12 states that have yet to expand Medicaid, we write with great concern regarding reports in the press that the expansion incentives passed as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) may be repealed.  This is especially troubling in light of other reports that the policy proposal to address the coverage gap in the Build Back Better Act may be temporary.  We strongly oppose efforts to repeal these expansion incentives, particularly if a permanent coverage gap policy is not put in place.

“If the final coverage gap policy in the Build Back Better Act is temporary, the expansion incentives are likely to be an important part of closing it permanently in the future.  As you know, the ARP provided an increase to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) of five percentage points for two years for any state that newly expands Medicaid.  This increase is projected to be sufficient to cover the 10 percent state share for expansion enrollees during that time and is a critical factor for those states actively considering expansion.  Repealing the ARP expansion incentives would throw a wrench in those discussions and may cause states to continue to refuse to expand Medicaid.”

Full text of the letter can be found here.