NAMD calls on Congress to timely complete FY 2024 appropriations

Uninterrupted operations critical for success in unwinding and stability of the safety net.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., September 15, 2023) – On behalf of the nation’s Medicaid Directors, NAMD urges Congress to act swiftly to ensure that federal appropriations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and frontline safety net providers continues uninterrupted into the next federal fiscal year. Failure to do so could have lasting ramifications for millions of Americans served by Medicaid.

In the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 passed in December 2022, Congress set April 1, 2023 as the end of the pandemic-era Medicaid continuous enrollment requirement. Historical efforts in every Medicaid program across the nation are now underway to redetermine the eligibility of all people on the program. During this unprecedented period of Medicaid redetermination work, consistency in federal appropriations and support is critical for ensuring the process continues as needed. Lapses in appropriations for CMS could disrupt this work, causing delays that incur additional costs and obstacles for both people served by Medicaid and the state and territorial agencies administering the program. By completing the appropriations process timely, Congress can mitigate these risks and ensure this historical renewal effort continues uninterrupted.

Additionally, funding for safety net providers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, must be maintained. These providers are important sources of care for people served by the Medicaid program, as well as those who are uninsured. Often these providers can be sites for presumptive eligibility processes that connect people who qualify for Medicaid to health coverage. When funding for these providers is jeopardized, it threatens community health efforts, negatively impacts patient outcomes, and causes those who most need Medicaid to fall through the cracks.

About the National Association of Medicaid Directors

The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) is a bipartisan, nonprofit, professional organization representing leaders of the 56 Medicaid agencies across the country, the District of Columbia and all the U.S. territories. NAMD supports Medicaid Directors in administering the program in cost-effective, efficient and visionary ways that enable the more than 75 million Americans served by Medicaid to achieve their best health and to thrive in their communities. NAMD does this by offering programs for Medicaid Directors, elevating the consensus issues of Directors in the federal policy process, and serving as the trusted source for data and information about Directors.