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Territorial Caucus raises concerns on healthcare
The Bipartisan Territorial Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives hopes that their constituents in the five U.S. territories would not be forgotten once healthcare reforms are put in place.
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is a member of the caucus, along with Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-Puerto Rico), Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa).
The GOP-dominated U.S. Congress has made repealing the Affordable Care Act, derided as Obamacare, one of their first order of business. They promised to replace it with a better program.
In a letter to House majority leader Kevin McCarthy (R-23rd, California) and minority leader Nancy Pelosi (D-12th, California), the caucus said they have faith the new program would provide affordable healthcare for those not covered under Obamacare, including those in the U.S. territories.
“The bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico—chaired by Senate President pro tempore Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)—recently recommended with respect to the application of Medicaid that ‘Puerto Rico and other territories should be treated in a more equitable and sustainable manner,” the letter said.
This would lift the cap on Medicaid payments. “Additionally, this would mean the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, which is currently set by law at 55 percent for the territories, should instead be based on income levels in a manner comparable to how FMAP is established for each state.”
The five-member caucus added that fair treatment for the territories should also be given for the Medicaid program and any federal program that would replace Obamacare.
