Federal Issues

LA Medicaid Crisis

Advocacy efforts were successful with having Congress prevent Louisiana from facing a drastic decrease in the percentage of federal funds it recieves to cover Medicaid services.   The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) is the percentage of federal funds provided to match state dollars for Medicaid payments.  Louisiana was projected to have its current FMAP rate of 80 percent reduced to 63% in January 2011.  On August 10, 2010 President Obama signed into law House Resolution (H.R.) 1586 that will limit the shift in FMAP to 3.2 percentage points from January through March 2011 and 1.2 percentage points from April through June 2011. Each percentage point Louisiana pays is equal to millions of dollars worth of services.  

Louisiana still faces a “cliff” when the FMAP calculation for July 2011 and beyond will create a severe reduction in federal funds.  Without further Congressional action to address this cliff in funding Louisiana will be planning for further cuts to services. (Click here for more information).    

Federal Policy Recommendations

Disability Policy Collaboration Legislative Agenda for the 111^th Congress (2009-2010) 

Disability Policy Collaboration Legislative Agenda – Summary Version 

Laws, Legal Decisions, and Rulings

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act 

• Olmstead vs. L.C. & E.W.

Landmark litigation establishing that undue institutionalization qualifies as discrimination “by reason of…disability.”