Obama defends 'Louisiana purchase'

[Synicus Maximus]

resident Obama defended a controversial healthcare provision today that opponents say is intended to buy the vote of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

The so-called "Louisiana purchase" would give extra Medicaid funding to any state in which every county has been declared a disaster area. Louisiana would qualify due to Hurricane Katrina. Hawaii may also qualify due to the recent earthquake.

RELATED ARTICLES

* Obama's Fox interview gets combative

Obama said today that while the provision has been called a "special deal," it's simply the right thing to do.

"That provision, which I think should remain in, said that if a state has been affected by a natural catastrophe, that has created a special health care emergency in that state, they should get help," Obama told Fox News's Bret Baier in an interview that will air tonight. resident Obama defended a controversial healthcare provision today that opponents say is intended to buy the vote of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.).

The so-called "Louisiana purchase" would give extra Medicaid funding to any state in which every county has been declared a disaster area. Louisiana would qualify due to Hurricane Katrina. Hawaii may also qualify due to the recent earthquake.

RELATED ARTICLES

* Obama's Fox interview gets combative

Obama said today that while the provision has been called a "special deal," it's simply the right thing to do.

"That provision, which I think should remain in, said that if a state has been affected by a natural catastrophe, that has created a special health care emergency in that state, they should get help," Obama told Fox News's Bret Baier in an interview that will air tonight.

[vadawg]

1. i think everyone who is honest knows its a bribe...

thats if they are being honest and not allowing political biases to colour their opinion...

[Imajika]

2. For how long do they qualify for the extra funding?

Forever?

How long does the "Louisiana Purchase" apply? What about in the future when every county in a state is declared a disaster area due to a major snowstorm?

[FrenchieCat]

3. That might lead to Medicare for all!

:rofl:

[Thrill]

4. LOL. I had no idea that was in there. I like it. Looks like LA will be getting single payer:)

[blue neen]

5. You need to edit your first line to read "President Obama".

That is what you want it to say, isn't it?

Thanks.

:dem:

[NYC_SKP]

6. I'm fine with it, helps to cancel out Bush's extreme negligence. n/t

[MadMaddie]

7. I think it is the right thing to do

LA is a major port and the region is still sufferring from the inability of the previous administration to actually do something right.

[Barbara2423]

8. I support that as long as it says "every state".

[RB TexLa]

9. Any state that meets the criteria

SEC. 2006. SPECIAL ADJUSTMENT TO FMAP DETERMINATION FOR CERTAIN STATES RECOVERING FROM A MAJOR DISASTER.

Section 1905 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d), as amended by sections 2001(a)(3) and
2001(b)(2), is amended— (1) in subsection (b), in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘subsection (y)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsections (y) and (aa)’’; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

‘‘(aa)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (b), beginning January 1, 2011, the Federal medical assistance percentage for a fiscal year for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State shall be equal to the following:
‘(A) In the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), increased by 50 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5.

‘‘(B) In the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection for the State, increased by 25 percent of the number of percentage points by which the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection.

‘‘(2) In this subsection, the term ‘disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State’ means a State that is one of
the 50 States or the District of Columbia, for which, at any time during the preceding 7 fiscal years, the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and determined as a result of such disaster that every county or parish in the State warrant individual and public assistance or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act and for which— ‘‘(A) in the case of the first fiscal year (or part of a fiscal year) for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year after the application of only subsection (a) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5 (if applicable to the preceding fiscal year) and without regard to this subsection, subsection (y), and subsections (b) and (c) of section 5001 of Public Law 111–5, by at least 3 percentage points; and ‘‘(B) in the case of the second or any succeeding fiscal year for which this subsection applies to the State, the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the fiscal year without regard to this subsection and subsection (y), is less than the Federal medical assistance percentage determined for the State for the preceding fiscal year under this subsection by at least 3 percentage points.

‘‘(3) The Federal medical assistance percentage determined for a disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State under paragraph (1) shall apply for purposes of this title (other than with respect to disproportionate share hospital payments described in section 1923 and payments under this title that are based on the enhanced FMAP described in 2105(b)) and shall not apply with respect to payments under title IV (other than under part E of title IV) or payments under title XXI.’’.