CONGRESS PASSES $700 MILLION MEDICAID
RELIEF FOR MISSISSIPPI
$700 million for Mississippi Medicaid provided in Deficit Reduction Act; House also passes Patriot Act extension and initial lobbying reform measure
2/1/2006
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -Today the House passed the Deficit Reduction Act which includes $2 billion in Medicaid relief funding for Hurricane Katrina affected areas. This will provide a projected savings of about $700 million for Mississippi by paying much of the state's Medicaid cost with federal funds.
"This legislation will prevent Katrina's disaster from crippling our Medicaid system and extending more grief into the lives of our elderly and disabled Mississippi residents. As we rebuild our towns, communities and tax base, these funds are essential to maintain critical health care services," said Congressman Chip Pickering who inserted this provision into the legislation in the House Energy and Commerce Committee where he serves as Vice-Chairman.
http://www.house.gov/pickering/releases/feb06/Medicaid.htm