Medicaid Matters: You Did It! But You're Not Done Yet...

April 27,2005—Thanks to your efforts, lawmakers last night voted overwhelmingly to urge House negotiators to strike Medicaid cuts from the final budget resolution. Unfortunately, the attacks on crucial services and supports for people with mental or psychiatric disabilities are coming fast and furiously, and we still need your help!

The Good...

The House voted 348-78 to approve Representative John Spratt's (D-SC) motion to instruct the members charged with reconciling differences between the Senate and House budget resolutions (conferees) to reject indiscriminate Medicaid cuts. The motion also urges House conferees to accept the formation of a bipartisan Medicaid reform commission called for by the Senate's budget resolution. House approval of the motion is a major victory against roughly $20 billion in indiscriminate cuts to the Medicaid program, the single most i

mportant source of financing for mental health services.

... and the Bad.

House conferees may still ignore instructions in the Spratt motion and opt for cuts to the Medicaid program a

nd other programs important to people with mental or psychiatric disabilities. Congress Daily reports that the final budget resolution now being hammered out by House and Senate negotiators contains $10 billion in Medicaid cuts and $7

billion in additional cuts to programs many people with disabilities depend on, such as the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), child care, foster

care and adoption assistance programs, and the Social Services Block Grant.

Millions of Americans with disabilities count on these programs for support. Please take a moment to remind your lawmakers that the federal budget should not be balanced on the backs of Americans with mental disabilities.

Take action Now!

The House may consider the final budget resolution as early as tomorrow. Please call the Capitol switchboard now at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your Representative and urge him or her to reject any budget resolution that would undermine opportunities for Americans with mental or psychiatric disabilities to lead independent and successful lives in the community. Once you've been connected with your Representative's office ask to speak with the Legislative Assistant handling the budget resolution.

Not sure who represents you in Congress? Find out now at http://www.congress.org.

Fast Facts

Medicaid cuts would be disastrous for people with mental illnesses. Medicaid is the single most important source of financing for mental health services in America.
Reductions in SSI would have a disproportionately harmful effect on people with mental disabilities, many of whom rely on these programs to help make ends meet. People with mental illnesses make up more than a third of Americans who receive SSI.
TANF is a critical means of support for people with disabilities. Adults who receive TANF benefits are three times more likely to have at least one physical or mental health impairment than adults who do not receive benefits under the program.

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Fair Use Policy
Please feel free to forward our alerts as long as you credit the Bazelon Center with a link to our website:
http://www.bazelon.org