On June 27, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a bill (S. 1701) to extend the Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) and abstinence education programs through September 30, 2007; both programs were set to expire on June 30.
The TMA (P.L. 109-432) provides continued medical coverage for certain families who become ineligible for Medicaid because of increased earnings or child support payments. Extended coverage is provided for up to 12 months for families with increased earnings up to 185 percent of the federal poverty line; families with increased earnings from child support payments are eligible for up to four months of extended coverage.
The abstinence education program was established by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) and was last reauthorized in 2006 (P.L. 109-432). The program authorizes $50 million annually for grants to states to create or augment existing abstinence-only education programs for unmarried teenagers and adults.
