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Without more federal help, states might cut Medicaid
Unless Congress bails them out, states probably will have to cut health coverage for low-income families and others without insurance, a new report says.
Lawmakers included higher Medicaid reimbursement funds for states in last year's economic stimulus bill, but the money will expire next Dec. 31.
Without an extension, most states won't be able to ensure that eligible Medicaid beneficiaries will be served, according to Families USA, a nonpartisan health advocacy group, which issued the report Thursday.
"At the same time Congress is considering health reform, a more immediate crisis is looming that will cause many to join the ranks of the uninsured within the next year," said Ron Pollack, the group's executive director.
The report says that a six-month extension of the increased reimbursement rate also would help spur business activity and create jobs.