Since March 2020, the federal government has provided the state of Washington supplemental funding for the state’s Medicaid programs to address the staggering cost increases associated with fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased federal funding has helped buy PPE, cover certain testing costs, retain staff and contract for back-up agency workers to relieve staff, and pay for enhanced environmental services to keep residents and staff safe. In short, the enhanced funding has saved lives!
 
We learned that OFM is sweeping the supplemental federal funding to long term care providers to help close the state’s substantial budget deficit.  

Now is not the time to cut Medicaid rates to long term care providers who are on the front lines of combatting the virus in an effort to save lives and protect public health.  These supplemental payments are essential and provide basic tools needed to fight this virus ~ PPE and adequate staffing.
 
Washington State continues to have one of the worst reimbursement rates in the country when you compare the cost of care to the adequacy of the rate. Over the last four months, the enhanced federal funding has propped up the long term care sector. The additional Medicaid funding must continue, it is essential to the health and well-being of our employees, our residents and our community at large!

Please take a moment to tell your legislators to say NO to cutting vitally important Medicaid funding needed to protect the lives of seniors and their health care workers.  You can call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 or contact your legislator directly following the instructions here and send the following message – 

“Enhanced FMAP funding for the state’s Medicaid programs has saved lives! These funds have helped buy PPE, ensured adequate staffing and back up staffing, subsidized the cost of fit testing for masks, and paid for enhanced environmental services to keep residents safe. Say NO to efforts to remove the FMAP funding.”

Thank you for joining us in advocating for this much needed funding.

Questions?

Contact:

David Carter | Director, Health Care Finance & Policy

C 360.888.5702