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Statement of ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray on Families First Coronavirus Response Act
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2020
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jeff Van Ness, 202-204-7515, jvanness@communityplans.net
STATEMENT OF ACAP CEO MARGARET A. MURRAY ON FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
WASHINGTON—Margaret A. Murray, CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), today issued the following statement on the enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which among other items requires Medicare and Medicaid coverage of COVID-19-related services, incentivizes states to maintain continuous coverage for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, and increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to states by 6.2 percent:
“We’re glad that Congress is moving with alacrity to confront the threat to public health posed by COVID-19. If this crisis holds a silver lining, it’s that it demonstrates that Congress can pull together and provide Americans with needed relief to get through these unprecedented circumstances. We applaud their leadership.
“At the same time, this bill has shown that there are ways for us to strengthen the social safety net at a time when a strong safety net benefits us all. We’re glad that this law incentivized continuous eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP for people who qualify for the duration of the crisis. All of us—most of all, those of us who are covered by Medicaid and CHIP—stand to benefit from policies that promote coverage.
“We applaud the inclusion of continuous eligibility in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and are grateful to the leadership of Senator Sherrod Brown, as well as Representatives Joe Kennedy and John Katko, who have championed solutions to stabilize Medicaid and CHIP coverage in recent years in Congress.”
About ACAP
ACAP represents 74 Safety Net Health Plans, which collectively serve more than 20 million people. ACAP-member Safety Net Health Plans and partners serve their communities through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public health programs. For more information, visit www.communityplans.net.
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