Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program faced problems long before Hurricane Maria struck in September. Sources familiar with the proposed legislation say the new deal would fund the program for two years and could also include a $6 billion cash infusion.
The program has a hard $300 million cap from the federal government, with Puerto Rico’s government forced to come up with additional funds if necessary. Before the hurricane, the territory’s Medicaid funds were set to run out by April. Without new funding, they could run out by March.
“We need to be clear: anything less than a permanent fix to Puerto Rico’s Medicaid shortfall is inadequate,” said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., said in a . “If Republicans can toy with the idea of spending billions of dollars on a boondoggle like Donald Trump’s border wall, certainly responsible members of Congress can find the will and the funding to ensure 3.4 million American citizens in Puerto Rico have access to quality healthcare.”
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