News
Health Care Program Funding Extended Until May 22
- By: USAging
- On: 12/20/2019 09:34:06
- In: Policy & Advocacy
Another measure approved by Congress this week is funding for both the Medicaid Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program and outreach and enrollment assistance programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries (known as MIPPA, this program funds AAAs, ADRCs and SHIPs to target Medicare enrollment activities to economically vulnerable beneficiaries). The measure provides funding for both programs through May 22.
Both programs were set to run out of funds at the end of the year, and while advocates had hoped for a longer-term funding extension for MFP and MIPPA efforts, this short-term extension will put both programs in line with other critical health care program reauthorizations. Additionally, Senate Finance Committee leaders recently introduced a bipartisan bill to create a permanent authorization for MFP, which would prevent funding lags for state efforts to rebalance long-term care initiatives from institutional to home and community-based care.