The Honorable Rosa DeLauro

2413 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

 

May 14, 2020

Dear Congresswoman DeLauro:

We are writing to thank you for your support of the Health Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act and know that you are doing everything you can to ensure its passage.  Throughout your fifteen terms in Congress, you have always been responsive to constituents like us, who through our work with the New Haven Jewish Community Relations Council, are concerned about the needs of the underserved locally and throughout the nation. .

We were pleased to learn that the Medicaid  Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)  rate in the proposed rescue package has been increased to 7.8 % for a total 14% overall increase in the federal share for the program until June 30, 2021. We realize that Medicaid represents the bedrock of our social safety net as the largest insurer in the nation.  As a medical oncologist for over 50 years and an attorney representing clients in need of Social Security Disability, we are well aware of the yawning gap in the crucial safety net for our nation’s most vulnerable.  We truly hope that the temporary FMAP increase will not only provide needed aid to State Medicaid programs, but also protect and save lives in this unprecedented public health emergency.

Accordingly, we are reaching out to see how, through the National Federation system, we can help.  We realize that the Senate will be an uphill battle, but want to ensure that the FMAP provision will be passed by the Senate and enacted. In addition to the FMAP increase, we are eager to play a role to shore up support of the CT delegation for the following provisions:

Equitable distribution in funding from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund for Medicaid and Medicare providers who have been adversely affected by the Public Health Emergency. The $175 Billion within the HEROES Act will be a lifeline for our Jewish communal partner agencies.

 

Expansion of Medicaid support for health care staffing in order to assist in paying for the increased overtime and hazard pay for those working in a variety of residential facilities as well as other home or community-based settings

 

 

We want to work to ensure passage of the HEROES Act which provides $3 Billion in additional funds. These funds will  increase mental health support, including the innovative $265 million emergency grant program that will increase behavioral health treatment and prevention capacity, promote enhanced coordination of care, and provide needed funds  to update technology systems in order to ensure telehealth compliance.  We are concerned that the  current COVID-19 public health emergency will only increase the stress on those with mental health illness or substance use disorders, increasing the demands on social service organizations.

We are attaching more extensive details of these issues provided by The Jewish Federations of North America.  Congressman DeLauro, we are here to help with these issues either in the district, with our state delegation, or through the National  Federation system..

Thank you for your vital leadership on the Medicaid program.

 

Sincerely,

 

Betty G. Levy Esq.                                                                                                                                                           

Co-Chair 

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven                                                                                                                                                                      

Arthur L. Levy MD   

Co-Chair

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven