Hurricane Katrina Medicaid Relief

On September 16, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R- IA) and Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced "The Health Care Relief Act of 2005," (S. 1716) as part of the federal government's hurricane relief effort. The bill provides most enrollees 5 months of temporary coverage, however, at the request of the March of Dimes, bill sponsors agreed to extend coverage for pregnant women for the length of their pregnancies plus 60 days post-partum.  In addition, the March of Dimes worked with bill sponsors to ensure that newborns would be covered for a full 12 months following their birth.  If enacted, the bill would provide health insurance for pregnant women, infants and children with family incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level ($32,180 for a family of 3 in 2005), and the federal government would pay 100% of the costs of covering hurricane survivors during the relief period.  Bill sponsors indicated their intention to seek a full Senate vote.