Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: A Six-Month Check-Up After the Storms (Report)
Health Care in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands: A Six-Month Check-Up After the Storms – Issue Brief – 9190
The Territory Clause of the U.S. Constitution and subsequent case law authorize Congress to treat territories differently than states under federal laws and programs as long as there is a “rational basis” for the differential treatment. Federal law provides that residents of the territories are generally not required to pay federal income tax, and the territories have special rules regarding Medicaid, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, Report to the House and Senate (Washington, DC: Dec. 20, 2016), https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Bipartisan%20Congressional%
20Task%20Force%20on%20Economic%20Growth%20in%20Puerto%20Rico%20Releases%20Final%20Report.pdf.U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, “Six Months After Maria: Progress Made, Work Continues” (Washington, DC: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Mar. 16, 2018), https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2018/03/16/six-months-after-maria-progress-made-work-continues, accessed Apr. 18, 2018.
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