Rep. Issa Reintroduces Legislation to Support Medicaid Services for San Diego County Recipients

REP. ISSA REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT MEDICAID SERVICES FOR SAN DIEGO COUNTY RECIPIENTS

January 27th, 2005 - Washington, DC - Congressman Darrell Issa, today, reintroduced legislation, H.R. 306, to clarify that San Diego County can continue to act as a Medicaid enrollment broker and receive Federal Financial Participation (FFP) reimbursement.

"This legislation will help residents of San Diego county who can least afford healthcare get the Medicaid coverage they need," said Congressman Issa.

Medicaid regulations published in the January 19, 2001, Federal Register create a barrier to local public health departments like the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) serving as enrollment brokers. The current Federal CMS interpretation of the new rule prohibits all providers of services, including local health departments, from claiming FFP for enrollment activities, even if they do not provide Medicaid Managed Care services or benefit in any way from those managed care services. There is no restriction on the counties conducting enrollment activities, only a restriction on claiming FFP.

If this restriction is not mitigated San Diego County will not be allowed to continue to receive FFP for the Health Care Options (HCO) program. This would mean the loss of approximately $500,000 to $600,000 per year in FFP and would jeopardize the HCO part of the program.

"HHSA*s mission is to help people be healthier, safer and more self-sufficient," says Jean Shepard, director, HHSA. "Congressman Darrell Issa*s legislation moves forward the Board*s legislative agenda and will make it possible for the Agency to continue assisting over 170,000 residents to select health plans."

http://www.issa.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=228&Month=1&Year=2005