ETHA and Medicaid
HIV HEALTH CARE ACCESS WORK GROUP ALERT:
Help get badly needed extra
Medicaid funding to states!
September 25, 2008
Background:
Leaders in Congress are currently negotiating a second economic
stimulus bill. Earlier this year, Congress passed a bill that provided
many Americans with refund checks but failed to include fiscal
relief to states that are struggling to provide essential health
services to low-income people.
Advocates are working hard to get a provision in the new stimulus
bill that would give states a temporary increase in the percentage
of matching federal funds for their Medicaid programs. Medicaid
is the largest payer of health care for people with HIV/AIDS. 55%
of people with AIDS, 44% of people with HIV, and 90% of children
with HIV/AIDS rely on Medicaid for their health care and treatment.
Because of the economic downturn, states across the country have
been forced to consider Medicaid cuts. These cuts have a direct
impact on the comprehensive needs of people with HIV/AIDS and place
an additional burden on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and other
Ryan White services.
This economic stimulus package must include proposals that protect
health care for the nation’s most vulnerable people. Please
call your elected representatives today and urge them to support
increased Medicaid funding!
How you can help:
Call your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators in their
Washington, DC office. Tell whomever answers the phone:
- You urge the Representative/Senator to support a proposal in
the economic stimulus bill that would give states a temporary
increase in matching federal funds for their Medicaid programs.
- This would help states maintain Medicaid eligibility and benefits
during this tough economic period.
- This is a very important issue for people with HIV/AIDS and
other vulnerable populations.
- Please tell leaders in Congress to ensure this provision is
in the final stimulus bill.
You can call your Representative and Senators toll-free at 1-800-828-0498.
You will get the Capitol Switchboard. If you have trouble getting
through, you can try the regular phone number, 1-202-224-3121.
Ask to be connected to your Representative/Senator’s office.
For more information about this Alert, contact .
