Dear [Decisionmaker],
State and local governments have incurred massive revenue losses due to the virtual shutdown of the economy at the same time that the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased their expenses. Looming state funding cuts, coupled with scarce Federal relief, will significantly worsen the economic and health crises the pandemic has created.
To help struggling state and local government nationwide respond to the public health crisis, Federal COVID-19 relief legislation must include substantial state and local aid. As your constituent, I strongly urge you to include the following provisions:
- Create a $350 billion fund to help make up for lost revenue and prevent drastic cuts to essential services, especially health care
- Increase the Families First Coronavirus Response Act's temporary 6.2% increase in the Federal medical matching percentages (FMAP) to 12%
- The increase should apply to costs associated with all Medicaid populations (including Affordable Care Act expansion populations), be retroactive to January 1, 2020, and last at least through September 30, 2021
- The legislation should provide flexibility to reform Medicaid programs without cutting current beneficiaries off the rolls or increasing the ranks of the uninsured
[Your Name]
