Despite Senate vote against Medicaid match extension, advocates keep pushing.

Although U.S. Senate lawmakers last week voted down a much-anticipated federal Medicaid match rate extension, mental health advocates still hold out hope that what they consider a critical expansion to help states provide funding for consumers will eventually pass.

The Senate on June 16 voted 52-45 against a package of changes to the Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act (HR 4213) that included a six-month extension of Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages (FMAP).

Assuming the extension would pass, many states have planned their budgets accordingly, said Elizabeth Prewitt, director of government relations for the National Association of State Mental …