WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today joined with members of the American Health Care Association to attempt to prevent the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from cutting “provider taxes,” which receive federal matching funds to support state Medicaid programs.  In Missouri, over $1.4 billion in proceeds from the provider tax comprise annual support to the state’s Medicaid program.

 

"Missouri Medicaid relies on provider taxes to produce dedicated revenue for health care in our state. In an era when it is commonplace to see low-income individuals cut from the rolls of safety net programs like Medicaid, it is very important for the underlying support system for health care programs to be strong. Provider taxes and their federal matching funds generate a quarter of the funding for Missouri Medicaid, without which real reform for Medicaid becomes extremely difficult," said U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson.

 

Emerson authored legislative language in the U.S. House of Representative-passed Labor, Health and Human Services FY 2007 Appropriations bill.  Since the bill is not expected to be passed before the end of the legislative year, Emerson is seeking other vehicles to counter the administration effort to cut these taxes.