Congress Boosted Medicaid Match to Help Fight COVID-19 — But Many States Left Nursing Homes Out

One of the first legislative packages designed to help the U.S. navigate the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic included an increase in the federal matching funds for state Medicaid programs during the emergency period related to the coronavirus.

And a second major aid package under debate would go even further to increase federal dollars for Medicaid.

But though the majority of patients in the nation’s nursing homes are covered by their state’s Medicaid programs, the 6.2% increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) included in the March 18 Families First Coronavirus Response Act doesn’t necessarily trickle down to those