{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3796", "PLASKETT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MEDICAID AND MEDICARE IN U.S. TERRITORIES", "2021-05-21", "2021", "2021-05", "Democrat", "House", "VI", "Stacey E. Plaskett", "P000610", "plaskett.house.gov", "plaskett", "https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "For Immediate Release Contact: Michael J. McQuerry\n\nMay 21, 2021 202-215-8524\n\nPRESS STATEMENT\n\nPLASKETT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MEDICAID AND MEDICARE IN U.S. TERRITORIES\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2014Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, yesterday introduced legislation aimed at providing equitable treatment for U.S. territories in federal health care programs like Medicaid and Medicare, the Territories Health Equity Act of 2021 (H.R.3434). The Congresswoman released the following statement:\n\nThe Territories Health Equity Act of 2021 would address existing inequalities the territories face under Medicaid, Medicare, and other federal health programs. Importantly, regarding Medicaid, it will provide them with their equitable share of federal funding for Medicaid beyond the upcoming \u201cfiscal cliff\u201d when much of the existing funding for the territories is scheduled to expire at the end of September, 2021. Original co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n, Radewagen, Sablan, San Nicolas, Soto, Vel\u00e1zquez, Grijalva, Pressley, Clarke, and Torres of New York.\n\n\u201cPeople in the territories should have just as much access to health care as anyone else. In the midst of global pandemic, with more federal attention on how health care funding disparities have had a deleterious impact on the finances of local governments and hospitals in the territories, we believe that this is an opportune time to press for equity in Medicaid and Medicare,\u201d stated Congresswoman Plaskett. \u201cThe inequities in federal funding provided to the territories for Medicaid and Medicare has put access to affordable health care out of reach for too many Virgin Islanders, making our hospitals\u2019 emergency rooms the primary health care provider for the one-third of our population without health insurance, which contributes to unmanageable costs in uncompensated care.\u201d\n\n\u201cMillions of Puerto Ricans depend on Medicare and Medicaid programs to cover their healthcare needs. Our territorial status doesn\u2019t allow beneficiaries to have access to the same programs and benefits and our healthcare providers to receive the same pay as those living stateside,\u201d stated Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon. \u201cThis bill is necessary to correct these inequities and improve the wellbeing of people in all five U.S. territories, while also eliminating the \u2018Medicaid cliff\u2019 that burdens the healthcare and government sectors.\u201d\n\n\u201cWorking together, the territories have made important strides forward in ensuring Medicaid availability in recent years,\u201d stated Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen, \u201cbut we need to continue that progress to gain the full parity with Medicaid and other benefit programs that our people deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Territories Health Equity Act will correct long standing health inequities in the U.S. insular areas that are only made worse by chronic underfunding,\u201d stated Congressman Gregorio Sablan. \u201cI thank Delegate Plaskett for incorporating the text of my bill, H.R. 265, which would avert the fiscal crisis Medicaid programs in our jurisdictions face when supplemental Medicaid funding ends in September.\u201d\n\n\"Healthcare equity for our Territories is fundamental to the premise that all Americans, regardless of where they live in this country, should be afforded full federal support,\u201d stated Congressman Michael F.Q. San Nicolas. \u201cIf we are to further believe that healthcare is a right and not a privilege, then surely the support of full Medicaid inclusion for those without privilege must be made right.\"\n\n\u201cAmerican citizens living in U.S. territories deserve the same access to healthcare as those living in the mainland,\u201d stated Congressman Darren Soto. \u201cThe current system puts a strain on the territories\u2019 Medicaid programs, like in Puerto Rico, during a time when they need more support than ever. Our bipartisan bill will eliminate unfair Medicaid funding limits for U.S. territories and make it easier for individuals to receive necessary coverage.\u201d\n\n\u201cHealthcare is a human right, and the equitable distribution of that healthcare must be at the forefront of our legislative priorities on the mainland, and throughout U.S. Wherever and whenever an opportunity exists to overcome these inequities, to protect and preserve an individual\u2019s right to quality healthcare, we must seize it,\u201d stated Congresswoman Yvette Clarke. \u201cI am proud to stand alongside Rep. Plaskett as she reintroduces this critically important legislation because let me be very clear, citizens of U.S. territories are Americans, and they deserve to be treated as such. Full stop.\u201d\n\nAmong other things, the bill:\n\n\u00b7 eliminates Medicaid funding limits for U.S. territories, beginning FY2022;\n\n\u00b7 improves Medicare reimbursements to hospitals in U.S. territories;\n\n\u00b7 permits Medicaid and Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments to U.S. territories;\n\n\u00b7 allows residents of U.S. territories to be eligible for low-income subsidies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; and\n\n\u00b7 allows residents of U.S. territories who are unable to obtain health insurance through their employer or a health insurance exchange to instead access marketplace insurance coverage that is available to Members of Congress and congressional staff.\n\n###\n\nSection by Section", 1, "2026-04-07T15:46:19Z", "2026-06-28T00:48:43Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3796"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7861796766519547, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}