Advocacy Groups Call For Second Economic Stimulus Package With Additional Funds For Medicaid, Other Provisions

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 20 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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AARP, AFL-CIO and other advocacy groups have asked Congress to pass a second economic stimulus package that includes additional federal funds for Medicaid, among other provisions, CongressDaily reports. AARP spokesperson Danielle Holland said "there are items that are still outstanding that we think need to be looked at before the end of this year" and cited additional federal funds for Medicaid as one of the top priorities of the group. According to Holland, states face budget problems that might limit the level of benefits they can provide under Medicaid.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who met with economists earlier in the week to discuss a second economic stimulus package, said that she might hold a lame-duck session to pass such legislation. According to CongressDaily, Democratic leaders in both the House and the Senate have had internal discussions about a possible lame-duck session in which lawmakers would "debate a stimulus bill along with other measures aimed at improving the economy" (Sanchez, CongressDaily, 10/16).

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