Jenniffer González announces major first approval of $295.9 million for Mi Salud funding

Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón announced on May 1 the $295.9 million agreement for funding for the Mi Salud program after US House Speaker Paul Ryan sent her a letter applauding her efforts during the negotiations for the budget allocation package approval for Fiscal Year 2017.

“I thank Speaker Paul Ryan for his steadfast leadership and support in securing vitally needed Medicaid bridge funding for the 3.4 millions American citizens of Puerto Rico, Senator Marco Rubio who has always been advocating for funds in the Senate for the island, the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló and the Puerto Rico Secretary of Health, Rafael Rodríguez, for all this tireless effort as a team player and for the benefit of the healthcare of the people of Puerto Rico. I also extend my appreciation to President Trump and HHS Secretary Tom Price and their team, for recognizing and taking care of the health care funding needs of US citizens in Puerto Rico, as well as the Republican and Democratic leadership in Congress who supported us”, the Resident Commissioner stated in a written statement.

In his letter, Speaker Ryan recognized the leadership shown by González-Colón in her strong efforts to obtain healthcare funding for Puerto Rico. “I want to thank you for your hard work in preparing the budget allocation package for Fiscal Year 2017. The people of Puerto Rico can rest knowing that your diligence and creativity assures them a strong voice in Washington. Without your unique approach to solving problems, we would not have been able to provide the relief that your constituents need.”

González-Colón explained that this allocation of about $300 million covers part of the negotiation that ASES will have to do with the healthcare providers, corresponding to the semester, which covers January to June 2018. In this manner, the Medicaid program in Puerto Rico is covered with allotments up to June of the next fiscal year, and the other part will be dealt with as part of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that will be taken up in August, and for which she assured she will work tirelessly. “This bipartisan agreement must be approved early this week to ensure that the federal government continues in operation by the May 5 deadline for approval.”

The congresswoman acknowledged the full backing she enjoyed to obtain these funds from the office of Senator Orrin Hatch, the leadership of the federal House of Representatives, the Democratic minority, the Private Sector Coalition, the Medicaid group of Medicare Advantage Products Association of Puerto Rico (MMAPA), Hospitals Association, Physicians and Surgeons Association of Puerto Rico, all the bipartisan effort by organizations such as Jubilee USA and many others, as well as the bipartisan delegation of the Legislature of Puerto Rico. She also acknowledged the help, and assistance she obtained since her first meeting in October 2016 with the then Chairman of the Federal Chamber Budget Committee, and now Federal Health Secretary, Tom Price who championed the need for the funding.

“And on behalf of the 3.4 million U.S. citizens living on the Island and the 5.2 million Puerto Rican’s in the Mainland, I wanted to thank President Trump and his staff at the White House for considering the facts and not allowing the misinformation from opposition groups to harm my constituents.”, stated the Resident Commissioner.