Action Alert -- Tell U.S. Congress "Don't Slash Medicaid!"

From AAPD (6.2.11):                                                             

                     

Action Alert

  Tell U.S. Congress: “Don't Slash Medicaid!”

Contact your Representatives and Senators to advocate against more proposals to slash funding for Medicaid.

It is critically important that Congress be made aware of our strong opposition to large cuts in the federal funding for Medicaid. These cuts are under serious consideration in on-going discussions in a current legislative package. The discussion involves linking an increase in the total amount of debt the federal government can incur with cuts in annual federal spending. The deadline for this legislative package is now set at August 3.  This is the date on which the federal government believes it will be unable to pay existing debt if the debt ceiling is not increased. Our voices must be heard before then!

Background: There is a consensus that a failure to increase the debt ceiling by August 3 would have catastrophic consequences for the United States and global economies. At the same time, it is believed that it will not be possible to pass legislation to raise the debt ceiling without accompanying legislation to reduce the annual federal budget deficit.

In discussions about reducing federal spending, Medicaid is a natural target. In fiscal 2011, Medicaid cost $275 billion, about 7.6% of all federal spending. The cost will increase significantly over the next decade due to an aging population and increases in medical costs. The pressure to cut Medicaid will intensify because it will be difficult to make substantial cuts in the other large entitlement programs, Social Security and Medicare, because they have larger constituencies than Medicaid.

Proposals:  There are a number of pending concepts for reducing Medicaid, and it may not be clear until close to August 3 which proposals will be seriously considered. In these circumstances the best approach for supporters of Medicaid is to make every Member of Congress (and the Administration) aware of our strong opposition to any proposals which would make major cuts. Our opposition needs to be expressed early and often.

Ryan Plan: The most prominent proposal is the Ryan plan that passed the House in May. The Ryan plan would reduce Medicaid funding by about $772 billion (about 35%) over the next decade compared to a status quo program. It would be left to the states to limit their programs to deal with reduced federal support. They are likely to curtail the services they cover and limit eligibility. The Ryan plan is unlikely to be accepted by the Senate.

Other proposals: These are generally less specific than Ryan’s plan. Most would also lead to major cuts and consequential changes at the state level. These include proposals to limit all federal spending to a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or to impose this type of limit on all health care programs, or all entitlement programs. It would be difficult to meet these limits without major cuts in Medicaid.

Suggested Disability Talking Points:

• Medicaid is critical for the health care of 8 million people with disabilities.
• Medicaid pays for wheelchairs and prosthetic devices for people with disabilities such as spinal chord injury, cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
• Medicaid pays for prescription drugs for persons with mental illnesses and epilepsy and other medical conditions.
• Medicaid pays for programs to enable people with intellectual disabilities to live and work in the community.
• Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis & Treatment program helps identify children’s disabilities early and gets them the care they need.

Pending proposals for “block grants” and “global spending caps” would undermine these important programs by reducing funding for Medicaid.  They would deny health and long term care to millions of vulnerable Americans.

The Ryan block grant plan would reduce funding over the next 10 years by $772 billion (35%) compared to continuation of the status quo. Global spending cap proposals would also lead to substantial reductions in Medicaid funding.

Reduced federal funding would compel the states -- that have serious financial problems of their own -- to sharply restrict enrollment, eligibility and benefits for the populations they now serve.  These changes could impact many of the current waivers that support community-based living for people with disabilities. The changes could have a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to enhance their ability to live and work in their communities and to avoid costly and unnecessary institutionalizations.

Ten Advocacy Steps

1. Write or e-mail your Representatives and Senators today.  
2. Call your two U.S. Senators and U.S. House Representative in their local state offices to set up a time to meet when they are home next. Under the current schedule:
   1. U.S. House Members are expected to be in their districts June 4-12, June 25-July 5, and July 16-24. Make an appointment today!
   2. To determine who is your U.S. Congressional Representative, please go to the official site at https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml 
   3. To find out your U.S. Congressional Representative’s local address and phone numbers, go to http://www.house.gov/
   4. Senators are scheduled for a recess July 2-10. To find your U.S. Senator, go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
   5. This list includes their Senate address and phone numbers. If you can only get a meeting with a staff person, do that too.
3. If you or someone you know with a disability benefits from Medicaid directly, be sure to mention that at the meeting.
4. Be sure to write a letter (send snail mail) using the Talking Points above; organize a “Save Medicaid for Us” Letter Writing event.
5. Go to Members’ websites and write them Emails or fill out the online form and let your opinion be heard. Organize an “Email to Save Medicaid” party.
6. If Members hold Town Meetings, show up, sit at the front and make the points above. If you have facts and figures about your state Medicaid program, be sure to mention that at the meeting. Tell ‘em what the cuts would really mean to you! Remember, personal stories stick in Members’ minds.
7. Be sure to state that you are a “registered voter” in any letter or at any Town Meeting.
8. If you are not a registered voter, go to your state election website at http://tinyurl.com/29x7g5a and register today!
9. If you see letters to the editor or op eds or TV news items decrying wasteful Medicaid spending, be sure to respond quickly using the Talking Points above.
10. Let AAPD know what you hear or learn in your meetings, via email to [email protected]  We can take your information – without your name -- with us when we meet any Congressional Members or Administration officials.

Comments

[Ryan]

stop cuts