Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomed bipartisan House passage Wednesday of a Continuing Resolution (C.R.) that maintains government funding levels, while remaining details of a long-term appropriations legislative package, known as an Omnibus, are in late-stage negotiations. The CR secures the current Medicaid support levels and federal matching rate for American Samoa and the other territories so there is no gap while awaiting the full year legislation.

 “This CR preserves the programs we depend on, especially Medicaid and the FMAP rate,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Leadership of Congress is optimistic that the Omnibus will be ready for votes next week to provide full year funding for 2023, and I expect that bill to also protect our Medicaid rate.”

By federal statute, American Samoa’s federal support for Medicaid is set at 83 percent, except in emergency situations, including President Biden’s emergency declarations which have repeatedly carried forward an additional 6 percent, continuing a temporarily higher rate of over 89 percent. In standard non-emergency times, American Samoa’s 83 percent is the highest in the nation, above the rates in the 50 states.

For many years, American Samoa operated with just 55 percent federal support as the usual rate, except for during disaster rates, such as following Cyclone Gita. Following 2019 congressional action, the rate moved from 55 percent to 83 percent, and the territories and their representatives in Congress worked together on that priority, and each year since to preserve this improved rate.

This week, Congresswoman Amata took part in a bipartisan letter with the five insular representatives, first thanking congressional leadership for including the Medicaid FMAP in the CR, and immediately requesting in unity the continuation of the same FMAP in the full year funding to follow.

 “I’m very optimistic that this message has again been heard, and that working together on Medicaid continues to succeed,” said Aumua Amata. “We’ll learn the details next week, but I fully expect our Medicaid funding to be secured in the Omnibus for at minimum one full year, even as we request multi-year consideration.”