[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THE TERRITORIES HEALTH EQUITY ACT

  (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 
3434, the Territories Health Equity Act of 2021.
  This bill will address the existing inequalities the territories face 
under Medicaid, Medicare, and other Federal health programs. 
Importantly, regarding Medicaid, it would provide us with the equitable 
share of Federal funding for Medicaid beyond the upcoming fiscal cliff 
when much of the existing funding for the territories is scheduled to 
expire at the end of September 2021.
  In the midst of a global pandemic, with more Federal attention on how 
healthcare funding disparities have had a deleterious impact on the 
finances of local governments and hospitals throughout the country, we 
believe this is an opportune time to press for equity in Medicaid and 
Medicare.
  The inequities in Federal funding provided to the territories for 
Medicaid and Medicare have put access to affordable healthcare out of 
reach for too many in the Virgin Islands and the other territories, 
making our hospitals' emergency rooms the primary healthcare provider 
for one-third of our population without health insurance, which 
contributes to unmanageable costs. Please support H.R. 3434.

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