GAO: CA, NY get most federal Medicaid dollars under stimulus

Under the massive economic stimulus package pending on the Hill, California and New York would bet the most federal Medicaid dollars, while Alaska, New Mexico and North Dakota would come in near the bottom of the list, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office. California could see $10.5 billion in additional Medicaid funding and New York $12.3 billion more, the GAO calculates.

The Senate's version of the bill would increase each state's piece of the federal medical assistance percentage, known as FMAP, by 7.6 percentage points for two years (fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2011). Additional state assistance based on unemployment rates would also be offered, providing from 1.5 percentage points to 3.5 percentage points.

The House bill, meanwhile, would split Medicaid funding between federal and state authorities at about 50-50.

To learn more about this legislation:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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