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Updated: U.S. Senate to cast key vote today or tonight on extending Medicaid relief for states

Posted Mar 9, 2010 by Catherine Whittenburg, Tallahassee bureau

Updated Mar 9, 2010 at 02:16 PM

U.S. Senate is poised to cast a vote later today or tonight that could clear the way for legislation extending stimulus funding for Medicaid.

If the bill clears today’s hurdle, it could pass before the end of the week—and in time for the Florida House and Senate to budget the extra money.

Valued at more than $1 billion, the emergency relief for states would shrink Florida’s upcoming budget shortfall by about one-third. Last year’s federal stimulus package provided an enhanced federal Medicaid match only through the end of the 2010 calendar year, six months shy of the end of the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The bill pending in the U.S. Senate today includes numerous relief proposals including the Medicaid assistance for states. Most, like Florida, are experiencing dramatic increases in their Medicaid enrollment due to high unemployment and foreclosure rates.

According to the Associated Press, “The measure could subsequently pass the Senate as early as Thursday. The House passed companion legislation last year and talks between the chambers would produce a final version for Obama.”

State Sen. Durell Peaden’s health care budget committee got an update this morning on the pending vote in Congress from Joy Wilson of the National Conference State Legislatures. Florida, she said, could know “tonight or tomorrow” whether Congress is going to extend the higher federal match for Medicaid for an extra six months. At the end of Wilson’s testimony via teleconference, Gov. Charlie Crist made a brief appearance before Peaden’s committee, as did Crist’s budget director, Jerry McDaniel, who said the provision is worth $1.024 billion for Florida.

“It’s very, very important for our budget and our state, and most importantly, our people,” said Crist, who has already budgeted the money in his spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

Lawmakers have said they won’t make any assumptions about the budget without clear assurance from Congress.

“I would believe it when I see it,” House budget chairman David Rivera said. “When it actually passes the Congress and is signed by the President, if that happens before April 30, we will deal with the issue.”

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