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Manning Co-Leads Introduction of Medicaid Saves Lives Act to Close Coverage Gap

July 21, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) co-led the introduction of the Medicaid Saves Lives Act, which would allow people in states that have refused to expand Medicaid to enroll in a federally-funded Medicaid-style program that provides full benefits. This bill would help to close the coverage gap, which includes people who make too little to afford health insurance on the health care exchange, even with the subsidies currently available, but do not qualify for Medicaid. Congresswoman Manning introduced this bill alongside Congresswoman Carolyn Bordeaux (GA-07).

“North Carolina’s failure to expand Medicaid, even with robust federal financial incentives, has left more than 500,000 residents without the health care they need. Creating a federal Medicaid-style program for people living in non-expansion states, like North Carolina, will support hard-working low-income families, address racial and ethnic disparities in health care, and, ultimately, save lives,” said Congresswoman Manning. “After years of Republican-led obstruction, I’m proud to co-lead the Medicaid Saves Lives Act to help North Carolinians get the health care coverage they need.”

The Medicaid Saves Lives Act would:

  • Create a federal Medicaid look-alike program that is run and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and would provide the same full benefits of Medicaid; and
  • Add to the incentives in the American Rescue Plan Act by giving states additional and extended funding to expand Medicaid through a significant federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) increase.
  • Since Congress already paid for Medicaid expansion in the Affordable Care Act, the federal Medicaid program in the Medicaid Saves Lives Act requires no additional funding.
  • This legislation would:
    • Increase free and affordable health coverage to millions of Americans;
    • Expand access to health care and provide access to preventative health services;
    • Improve health outcomes and prevent premature deaths;
    • Reduce uncompensated care costs which would reduce the number of hospital and provider closures; and
    • Allow people to access preventative care and early treatment, so they can lead a healthier life.
  • This program created in the Medicaid Saves Lives Act would also include the robust Medicaid benefits provided under the Affordable Care Act such as:
    • All essential health benefits;
    • Non-emergency medical transportation;
    • Prescription drug benefits;
    • Coverage for rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers;
    • Preventative services;
    • Maternity and newborn care;
    • Mental health and substance use disorder care; and
    • Hospitalization services.

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