Family Opportunity Act Passes Senate Finance Committee
Calls Needed to Bring Bill to Senate Floor and Urge House
Action
July 22, 2002 - The Senate Finance Committee recently approved legislation
to help families of children with severe disabilities - including children
with serious mental and emotional disorders - get needed health and mental
health care for their child, clearing the way for a vote on the Senate floor.
Grassroots action is needed now to ensure passage of this important legislation.
On July 11, the committee approved the Family Opportunity Act (S. 321). The
bill addresses the dilemma many families face when they lack adequate insurance
to cover much-needed mental health services for their child: choosing between
living in poverty or giving up custody to the state so that the child can obtain
the comprehensive services available through Medicaid. In order to avoid giving
up custody, many parents turn down hard-earned promotions and pay increases,
effectively spending down to remain impoverished and therefore eligible for
Medicaid coverage.
Committee Changes to the Bill
Changes made in the Committee reduce the number of families that will benefit
from the Family Opportunity Act, but the bill still provides a needed mechanism
for many families to access services.
- The upper income level for families to be eligible to “buy-in” to
Medicaid on a sliding scale was reduced from 300 percent of the federal poverty
level (approximately $52,000 for a family of four) to 250% of the federal
poverty level (approximately $45,000 for a family of four).
- The committee also struck wording to create a demonstration program that
would have allowed states to use Medicaid to cover children with potentially
severe disabilities who, without access to health care, would reasonably
be expected to become disabled.
- The legislation still includes language to help prevent out-of-home placement
and allow children to remain in the community for their care by allowing
states to use Medicaid’s home and community based waivers to cover children
receiving inpatient psychiatric services in a residential treatment center
(RTC) or at risk of placement in a RTC.
Action Needed:
With few legislative days remaining before the fall elections and Senate floor
time being consumed with other legislative priorities, calls are needed now
to move the Senate leadership to bring S. 321 to the floor for a vote. Currently,
75 Senators support S. 321 and 235 Representatives support H.R. 600, its
House companion legislation.
What You Can Do:
- Urge Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) to bring S. 321 to the
floor for a vote immediately. Call Senator Daschle's office at 202-224-2321
or 202-224-5556.
- Tell the House leadership and the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee
to act immediately on H.R. 600, the House companion legislation to the Family
Opportunity Act, which is being sponsored by Representatives Pete Sessions
(R-TX) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). Contact House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
at 202-225-0600 or 202-225-2976 and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin
at 202-225-4031 or 202-225-2927.
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