PI Action alerts & updates ... 2003

Opportunity to Get More Money
for Medicaid in Budget Resolution

Please call your U.S. Senators today in support of S. 138!!
During the week of March 17, the Senate and the House are expected to debate and vote on budget resolutions for Fiscal Year 2004. These resolutions provide a framework for the federal budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on October 1.

This process is an opportunity to get a badly needed temporary increase in Medicaid funding to the states. States are facing severe fiscal crises and being forced to make cuts to their Medicaid programs. This means that people are losing their Medicaid coverage or others are losing access to essential healthcare and treatment services.

President Bush has recently announced his Medicaid “modernization” proposal, which would be disastrous for people living with HIV/AIDS and others who depend on this important safety net healthcare program. It would allow states to borrow money for Medicaid, but be forced to pay the money back through reductions in Medicaid funding in the future. In addition, states that accept this money would have to accept a block grant proposal, replacing the federal government’s open-ended commitment of Medicaid funds with a cap on spending. In other words, if the costs of a state’s programs were to increase more than projected (due to a recession or a new epidemic, for example), states would not receive additional federal support.

Medicaid advocates are supporting a much better alternative for financial relief to the states. A bipartisan bill, S. 138, sponsored by Senators Rockefeller (D-WV), Collins (R-ME), Nelson (D-NE), Smith (R-OR), Clinton (D-NY), and Hutchison (R-TX), would give states a temporary increase in the federal match rate for Medicaid spending (FMAP), without the harmful changes to Medicaid proposed by the Bush Administration. The bill would provide $10 billion of new Medicaid funds for states over the next 18 months. It would also give states an additional $10 billion in temporary fiscal relief grants through the Title XX Social Services Block grant program. This money would go a long way in protecting access to healthcare and treatment for those who rely on Medicaid.

This legislation received strong support in the Senate during the last Congressional session, with 75 out of 100 Senators voting in favor. Advocates believe that the best hope for passing this bill is for the Senate to include it as part of its version of the budget resolution.

Medicaid is the largest payer of healthcare services for people living with HIV/AIDS. It serves 40% of people living with HIV, 55% of people living with AIDS, and 90% of children with HIV/AIDS. Temporarily increasing the federal match for Medicaid spending will help ensure that the program is protected.

You can help make a difference by urging your two U.S. Senators to support the inclusion of S. 138 in the budget resolution! Please take a few minutes to call your Senators today!

How you can help:
Call your two U.S. Senators immediately. Ask them to support S. 138 and to oppose President Bush’s harmful Medicaid reform proposal. You can use the following sample phone script to help craft your message. If you or someone you care about depends on Medicaid, be sure to let them know!

It is especially important that the following Senators receive phone calls, as they are key Senate Republicans who played a major role in passing this legislation last year. If you have family or friends in these states, please ask them to make this important phone call to their offices! You could also call these offices yourself and explain that although you are not a constituent, you are asking for their help on behalf of people with HIV/AIDS nationwide.

These Senators include: Senators Allen (R-VA), Campbell (R-CO), Chafee (R-RI), Cochran (R-MS), Domenici (R-NM), Hatch (R-UT), McCain (R-AZ), Sessions (R-AL), Specter (R-PA), Stevens (R-AK), and Warner (R-VA).

Sample Phone Message

“I am calling to urge Senator ___________ to support S. 138 when it is offered as an amendment to the budget resolution. This bill would provide states with badly needed emergency support for Medicaid. States need this fiscal relief to maintain their commitment to health coverage in this economic climate. I urge Senator _____________ to support this bill and to reject President Bush’s harmful Medicaid reform plan which would weaken the program.”

Contact information:
You can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Senators.