Tell Congress to Say No to Increased Medicaid Cuts

Status

Posted: October 20, 2005

The U.S. House of Representatives was set to vote today to increase the amount needed to be cut from Medicaid and other entitlement programs from $35 billion to $50 billion. The vote on that amendment has been postponed, however, because the leadership could not muster the votes to pass the amendment to the Budget Resolution that would have increased the cuts in Medicaid. The proposed additional $15 billion in cuts may also have affected Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and program that provides support to many low income children and people with severe disabilities.

Thank you to all who advocated to protest those additional cuts to Medicaid! But we still have work to do! The House leadership is now asking committees to continue to seek ways to increase the cuts in these critical programs and may bring up another vote next week that could affect funding for Medicaid and similar programs like SSI. We need stay mobilized to defeat any efforts to cut funding that protects the most vulnerable Americans.

Action Needed
How can you help?

Call your House Member(s) at the U.S. Capitol toll-free: 1-800-426-8073.

What to say:

• Cutting Medicaid at a time when low-income Americans and victims of Hurricane Katrina need this program the most is both reckless and unnecessary;
• Vote "NO" on any attempt to pass a budget that would require even deeper cuts to vital services for people with disabilities, such as Medicaid. This program, which benefits millions, must not be sacrificed;
• Low-income Americans with disabilities receive critical supports and services – like access to doctors, hospitals, medications, long-term care and more – from Medicaid;
• It is unconscionable and fiscally irresponsible to make the poor and most vulnerable of our nation suffer the consequences of cuts to programs and services designed to provide a safety net for them.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I urge you to vote "NO" on any proposed budget resolution that would deepen cuts to Medicaid and other vital services for people with disabilities. Medicaid benefits millions and must not be sacrificed. Cutting these programs, especially at a time when needs are extraordinary, is both irresponsible and unnecessary.

Medicaid is the nation's largest program that serves more than 7.5 million low-income Americans with disabilities. They receive critical supports and services -- like access to doctors, hospitals, medications, long-term care and more -- from the program, and its impact is immeasurable.

Congress needs to set its budget priorities straight. Making the poor and vulnerable suffer the consequences of the proposed cuts is unconscionable and fiscally irresponsible.

Please vote to protect the most vulnerable Americans, and vote "NO" to any budget resolution that would offset resources required to pay for Hurricane Relief and other programs against services such as Medicaid and SSI.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
October 19, 2005