Congresswoman Manning Co-Sponsors the COVER Now Act: Empowering Local Governments to Overcome Obstruction to Medicaid Expansion

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) joined over 40 Democratic House Members from states which have refused to expand Medicaid coverage in introducing the Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-Eligible Residents Now (COVER Now) Act. This landmark legislation, led by Rep. Doggett (D-TX), authorizes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to work directly with counties, cities, and other political subdivisions to expand Medicaid coverage. It would, for the first time, allow local leaders to help their vulnerable residents in states which have declined to accept federal resources for Medicaid expansion.

“North Carolina is among the 12 states that have failed to expand Medicaid, leaving more than 500,000 North Carolinians uninsured. This decision to block health care access disproportionately affects communities of color,” said Congresswoman Manning. “After years of Republican-led obstruction, I’m proud to cosponsor the COVER Now Act to help North Carolinians in need get the health care coverage they deserve.”

The COVER Now Act would: 

• Authorize CMS to contract directly with counties and other political subdivisions to establish demonstration projects expanding Medicaid coverage to their residents,
• Allow Participating entities to receive the same deal previously made available to States: 100% federal funding for the first 3 years and a gradual reduction to 90% federal funding by year 7 and thereafter,
• Allow participating entities to apply individually or jointly if they wish to establish a regional expansion project,
• Ensure existing Medicaid rules and systems would remain in place and apply to the local expansion programs,
• Require states to cooperate and authorize access to State Medicaid systems for participating entities, with additional federal administrative Medicaid funding for cooperation and subject to federal penalties for non-cooperation, and
• Ensure should a state expand, eligible beneficiaries enrolled in a local expansion program would be automatically enrolled into the State Medicaid program.

The COVER Now Act is based on previous successful demonstration projects in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cook County, Illinois, and several counties in California. These demonstration projects were established by State application through 1115 waivers and served as the glidepath to statewide expansion. Under the COVER Now Act, local entities would be empowered to apply directly to CMS without the States’ involvement.