(Office of the CNMI Congressional Delegate) — U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan says 2021 was one of the most successful ever in his Year in Review published in the
HAGÃ TÃA (The Guam Daily Post) â Local health officials are keeping a keen eye on the expiration of expanded Medicaid assistance as they map out their budgetary needs for the next fiscal year.
The federal government covers a certain share of Medicaid expenses based on the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage for the state or territory.
The FMAP for Guam has fluctuated recently but has been 55% in the past, meaning the local government needed to put up a 45% share to get the federal government to cover the rest.
In fiscal year 2019, Congress raised the FMAP to 100%. In fiscal 2020 and 2021, the FMAP was set to 83% and then to about 89%, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the island s Medicaid cap was lifted to about $130 million for fiscal year 2020 and 2021.
The legislature will be holding a public hearing for a resolution to lend support to Insular Area Medicaid Parity Act.
The act was introduced to congress by Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Del. Gregorio Kalili and would eliminate Medicaid funding limits for U.S. territories, including Guam and the CNMI.
According to Resolution 42-36, sponsored by Sen. Telena Nelson, nearly 21% of Guam residents are currently enrolled in the Medicaid program, which primarily assists the elderly and low-income individuals. But unlike the states, where federal funding for Medicaid is open-ended, Guam has a pre-set federal funding cap, after which local funds are used to fund the program.