[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE ENSURING MEDICAID CONTINUITY FOR THE INSULAR AREAS 
                              ACT OF 2024

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                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2024

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Ensuring Medicaid 
Continuity for the Insular Areas Act of 2014, which would protect 
access to health insurance for our most vulnerable Americans in the 
territories. Specifically, my legislation would authorize the 
redistribution of unused Medicaid block grant funding to address 
shortfalls in the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Medicaid programs in the U.S. territories are subject to a statutory 
cap, denying them the open-ended federal funding enjoyed by Medicaid 
programs in the states. Block grant programs, however, are inherently 
ill-equipped to respond to emergencies due to their fixed funding 
structure. This disparity most recently became pronounced during the 
COVID-19 public health emergency.
  Congress knows well the challenges associated with block grant 
programs. That's why we designed contingency measures for other block 
grant programs, such as the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 
In the event of a funding shortfall, states and territory CHIP programs 
have access to multiple contingency measures to protect and sustain 
access to healthcare services. Territory Medicaid programs face similar 
funding challenges as CHIP due to their shared block grant structure 
yet lack equivalent contingency measures.
  My bill, the Ensuring Medicaid Continuity for the Insular Areas Act 
of 2024, fixes this critical gap in our Nation's health safety net for 
Americans in the territories. Under terms set out by my legislation, 
territory Medicaid programs--like CHIP programs--would be better 
equipped to address emergencies through the redistribution of unused 
territory Medicaid allotment funds to shortfall territories.
  This bipartisan legislation presents a common-sense, budget-neutral 
solution, establishing a long overdue fail-safe for Medicaid in the 
territories. The well-being of our citizens and the care to which they 
have access to, regardless of their geographic location, must be our 
top priority.
  The gentleman from Guam, Mr. Moylan, and the gentlelady from American 
Samoa, Ms. Radewagen, are original cosponsors of the bill. I urge my 
colleagues to support this vital legislation and uphold our commitment 
to providing equitable health insurance coverage for all Americans.

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