Jenniffer González-Colón and other 15 Members of Congress advocate for Health Care funding for Puerto Rico
Washington, DC- Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon was joined by other 15 Members of Congress in sending a letter to federal health care agencies calling attention to the unequal treatment of the territory in Medicare reimbursements and to the need to strengthen the Medicare Advantage program in Puerto Rico.
The letter begins by pointing out the disparity in treatment for Puerto Rico under various federal health care laws, with special attention to the fee schedules under Medicare Advantage, urging them to be updated and strengthened. This program offers services in Puerto Rico to over half million elderly and disabled subscribers. Puerto Rico is the jurisdiction with the highest proportion of participants in Medicare Advantage on top of having the largest percentage of population eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
The call of the signing Members for an improvement in the Medicare Advantage fee Schedule goes hand in and with recommendations of the bipartisan Congressional Tark Force for Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, that Medicare Advantage providers, including those in Puerto Rico, be justly compensated for the services to beneficiaries.
The letter, sent last Friday, was addressed to the Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Noris Cochran and the acting director of the Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services, Patrick Conway.
Besides Jenniffer González-Colón, the letter was signed by a bipartisan Senate and House group including Senators Bill Nelson (D-Florida), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Robert Menendez (D-New Nueva Jersey) and Representatives John B. Larson (D-Connecticut 7th), Stephanie D Murphy (D-Florida 7th), Adriano Espaillat (D-New York 13th), Darren Soto (D-Florida 9th), José E Serrano (D-New York 15th), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-New York 7th), Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin 7th), Carlos Curbelo (R-Florida 26th), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Florida 25th) and W. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri 1st).
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