WH fast tracks some stimulus cash (to help states defer cuts in essential services)

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

From NBC's Savannah Guthrie
The White House will release $15 billion on Wednesday to the states to help with Medicaid costs, essentially fast-tracking a portion of the stimulus money to help states defer cuts in essential services.

Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/02/23/1805119.aspx

[acmavm]

1. Not to Louisiana, right? I mean Bobby isn't gonna take it, is he?

[CornField]

2. There are four states currently believed to be ineligible

Those are Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Mississippi. The funds that will be placed in state-specific accounts on Wednesday are the increased Federal Medical Assistance Program -- basically the federal match for state Medicaid funds. They do not include the funds related to the reauthorization of CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program).

The four states currently considered ineligible to apply for the new funds have until July 1 to come into compliance with the special rules adopted along with the stimulus package.

Here's a breakdown state-by-state that was released this morning by HHS:
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/statefunds.html

[Tunkamerica]

5. If NC is ineleigible why is no one here saying anything about it?

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/4594658/

[CornField]

7. I think that would be a question for the reporter

The press release sent out this morning by HHS indicates that North Carolina is among the four states that are currently not eligible for the funding -- although those states have until July 1 to meet the requirements. As to why the reporter didn't mention this... well, my guess would be that he wasn't aware & that the governor's office isn't going to purposefully report it.

If you go to the page that lists the disbursements and read the bottom paragraph you'll see what I'm talking about:
http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/statefunds.html

"CMS has clearly determined 4 States (MS, NC, SC, and VA) fail to qualify for the increased FMAP at this time."

[happygoluckytoyou]

3. any GOP GOV not wanting the money.... GOOD LUCK AT THE NEXT ELECTION ! ! !

[happygoluckytoyou]

4. no point stem cell testing there anyway.... all have the same DNA ! ! !

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. That is the sort of speedy rescue action I think we would expect of

Obama. The people count. They're actually important.