Sign-on Letter To The Senate Finance Committee
July, 2005
[DATE]
Dear [ ]:
The undersigned national organizations are deeply concerned about the future of the Medicaid program. As organizations representing various Medicaid stakeholders, we look forward to working with the Senate Finance Committee to strengthen and improve Medicaid for the 53 million vulnerable children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working families who rely on the program for their health care needs.
We are aware that the Budget Resolution requires the Senate Finance Committee to identify $10 billion in budget cuts over the next five years as part of reconciliation legislation. We would like to note, however, that there is no requirement in the Budget Resolution that all of the $10 billion in cuts be taken from Medicaid. A significant portion of the cuts can, and should, be taken from programs that are not targeted toward low-income Americans.
Furthermore, we strongly urge that, as you work on the reconciliation bill, no structural changes be made to the Medicaid program. Therefore, we ask that the following not be included in the reconciliation bill:
- It is critical that federal standards on cost sharing and benefits be maintained. The reconciliation bill should not include increases in beneficiary cost sharing or a reduction in covered services.
- The reconciliation bill should not alter the guarantee of access to needed health and long-term care services for all those qualified for the program.
- The reconciliation bill should not alter the financing arrangements between the federal government and the states that ensures that matching funds be provided without arbitrary caps or block grants.
We believe some improvements to the program can be adopted that would improve Medicaid’s cost effectiveness – especially through more economical purchasing of prescription drugs. We look forward to working with you towards that end.
Sincerely,
AFSCME
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families
Alliance for Children and Families
Alliance for Retired Americans
Ambulatory Pediatric Association
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
American Association on Mental Retardation
American Counseling Association
American Network of Community Options and Resources
American Orthopsychiatric Association
American Pediatric Society
Americans for Democratic Action
Assembly on School Based Health Care
Association of Jewish Aging Services of North America
Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs
Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD)
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
Center for Adolescent Health & the Law
Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
Child Welfare League of America
Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Community Catalyst
Consumers Union
Families USA
Gay Men's Health Crisis
Guttmacher Institute
Health and Disability Advocates
HIV Medicine Association
Housing Works
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Association for Children's Behavioral Health
National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems
National Association of State Head Injury Administrators
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
National Council of La Raza
National Health Council
National Hemophilia Foundation
National Hispanic Council on Aging
National Immigration Law Center
National Mental Health Association
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Puerto Rican Coalition
National Respite Coalition
National Women's Law Center.
NETWORK: A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
NHeLP
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office
RESULTS
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Society for Pediatric Research
Treatment Access Expansion Project
U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)
Union for Reform Judaism
United Jewish Communities
USAction
Voice of the Retarded
Voices for America's Children
Volunteers of America
Welfare Law Center
Please return to Lena O’Rourke at Families USA a.s.a.p. but no later than the close of business on July 13, 2005 E-mail Fax: (202) 347-2417, attention Lena
Yes, my organization will sign on to the letter to the senate on Medicaid in the budget reconciliation.
Your name:
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Type of Organization: (please check one) _________ National _________ State or Local
Address:________________________________________(Zip + 4)__________ -
Phone #:_________________________________________
Fax #: __________________________________________
E-mail address:___________________________________
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