Background
Several recent legislative efforts in Congress have included proposals that would cap the federal contribution (overall in a block grant or per person in a per capita cap) to Medicaid. Both a block grant and a per capita cap would shift costs to the states and reduce the availability and quality of long-term services and supports in both nursing facilities and home- and community-based settings.
MAINTAINING EXISTING MEDICAID FUNDING: Policy
MAINTAINING EXISTING MEDICAID FUNDING: Policy
Maintaining Medicaid funding
Congress and the states should ensure adequate Medicaid funding and maintain existing guarantees for Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS).
Congress should not change the current financing of Medicaid to a block grant or impose a per capita cap, both of which would shift costs and risks to states. Such a shift would severely undercut access to health care and LTSS (see also Medicaid).
Congress and the states should expand Medicaid to improve access to LTSS and ensure adequate federal and state Medicaid funding.