|
Urge Senators to Protect Medicaid by Delaying Harmful Regulations
Action Needed:
The Medicaid program is the largest single source of funding for reproductive health care services for women, and the only source of health care for millions of low-income people. Yet, George W. Bush and his Republican friends are attempting to undermine the program's effectiveness and cut federal matching funds through a new set of administrative regulations. We need your help to stop them.
We're halfway there: The House recently passed a bill (by a veto-proof margin) to delay these regulations from going into effect, and we need the Senate to pass the same thing - again by enough votes to override the threatened presidential veto. Please take action right away to urge your Senators to vote for H.R. 5613 by using our formatted message to send an email AND by calling in your message with this toll free number 1-800-828-0498. Just ask to be connected with the senators' offices for your state. We want the Senators to get your message loud and clear.
Take action NOW.
Background:
With only months left in power, the Bush administration is continuing to pursue their right-wing agenda of shredding the safety net for moderate and low-income families. In addition to reducing funding for reproductive health services and primary care for those without insurance, the proposed Medicaid reductions will mean that the loss of a number of critical services, including rehabilitation services, school-based transportation, and administrative services.
The proposed regulations would place more responsibility on states to fund the Medicaid program, at a time when states are experiencing budget problems due to the recession. Unemployment is rising, and proposed rule changes would cut Medicaid funding at a time when people need it most. The Bush administration's actions will also serve as a giant anti-stimulus package, because the cuts will ripple through every state's economy -- leading to losses in jobs, and drops in wages and business activity.
Medicaid federal matching funds will be reduced by an estimated $50 billion, with costs shifted to the states. This new burden on the states ranges from $88.2 million over five years for Alaska to $7.4 billion over five years for New York. The predictable outcome is that states will simply throw people off the Medicaid roles and limit services. One likely outcome will be cutbacks in health care services for low-income children under the State Child Health Care Program (SCHIP).
On April 23, the House of Representatives overcame partisan politics to vote against the Medicaid cuts by adopting (by a decisive 349-62 vote) H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. Thanks to your grassroots efforts, the House bill passed with a veto-proof margin. The "compassionate conservative" in the White House has threatened to veto this legislation and administration lobbyists are working hard to prevent the Senate from passing the legislation by a similar veto-proof margin. The bill is slated to bypass committees and go straight to a floor vote.
Urge your Senators to preserve Medicaid and oppose harmful regulations. Even if your Senators are conservative, and you believe that they are on the other side of the issue, send them a message anyway. It's an election year and many will vote with us if they hear from their constituents. Call and ask for their offices with this toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498. And send them an email - you can use (or edit) the short message we've prepared for you or compose one in your own words.
More information.
|
Support NOW by shopping the NOW Store!
for NOW staff picks and all amazon.com items
RSS | Links | Home 
Abortion and Reproductive Rights
Economic Justice
Ending Sex Discrimination
Lesbian Rights
Promoting Diversity & Ending Racism
Stopping Violence Against Women
