PI Action alerts & updates ... 2005

Call Your Senators Before March 7

Ask Them to Oppose Cuts and Caps to Medicaid

President Bush’s proposed FY 2005–06 federal budget includes $60 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next ten years, including billions in direct cuts to case management programs that serve thousands of Americans living with AIDS and HIV.

Cuts this big will translate straight into severe benefit and eligibility cuts at the state level. States are already cutting benefits and services to poor and disabled Americans—they’ll make even more severe cuts to individual beneficiaries and front-line service providers if the Bush Medicaid cuts are approved by Congress.

And cuts this big could mean the end of Medicaid as we know it—Congress could impose caps that would dismantle the entitlement structure that protects consumers and ensures comprehensive and needed care is provided.

On March 7, the Senate and House Budget Committees will begin work on a budget resolution that could protect Medicaid or destroy it with huge funding cuts.

We’ve got to put the heat on Congress—and especially our Senators—NOW to get them to block any cuts or caps to Medicaid funding.

How you can help:
Call your senators this week toll-free at 877-762-8762 and give them a simple message:

“I am calling to urge you to oppose a budget resolution that contains any cuts or caps to the Medicaid program . Medicaid is the single largest source of funding for HIV/AIDS care in America, and hundreds of thousands of people living with AIDS and HIV depend on it. Comprehensive, guaranteed health care through Medicaid is a life-and-death issue for Americans living with AIDS and HIV, and we oppose any attempts to weaken Medicaid—don’t let Medicaid cuts into the budget resolution.”

Contact information:
You’ll need to know the names of your two Senators when calling the Congressional Switchboard at the toll-free number. Ask to be connected to their offices. If you need help finding the names of your Senators, go to www.vote-smart.org.

The HIV Medicaid/Medicare Working Group is a national coalition of advocates working to protect and expand Medicaid and Medicare for people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information about the working group, please write to theaccessproject@aol.com.