Medicaid Advancement Act Introduced
The CNMI Medicaid program will receive additional funding through legislation I introduced – H.R. 6690, the Northern Mariana Islands Medicaid Advancement Act. If enacted, the bill would align the Marianas Medicaid grant with that of American Samoa, which has a comparable population size and income levels. This change would increase Medicaid funding for the CNMI from approximately $66 million to more than $90 million. The legislation corrects a long-standing inequity in Medicaid funding that dates back to 1983, when Medicaid block grants for the territories were first established. At that time, the CNMI received the smallest grant among the territories at just half of American Samoa’s allocation. This disparity has persisted over the decades, as subsequent increases through inflation adjustments and congressional action were applied. While Medicaid block grants for all territories have grown in recent years, the CNMI’s needs have outpaced its funding. As more residents seek Medicaid coverage, additional federal support is essential to ensure access to healthcare for the people of the Marianas.