Do Not Cut or Cap Medicaid

Strengthen, preserve and embrace Medicaid

"From the beginning of life to its end, it is Medicaid that makes a difference for many of the nations’ most vulnerable citizens who would otherwise lack the means to afford the health care they need.” Medicaid in 2005: Principles & Proposals for Reform, Health Management Association (for the National Governors Association), Feb. 2005.

VOR joins thousands of other organizations in its opposition to Medicaid cuts or caps

On January 12, 2005, more than 1000 state and national organizations wrote to President Bush saying, “We are strongly opposed to changes in the current structure of the Medicaid program that include converting the program into a block grant or otherwise imposing caps on federal funding” (see, http://www.vor.net/NoMedicaidCuts.htm).

What is really optional?

Most Medicaid services for people with mental retardation are considered optional. This list of “optional” services includes basic health care needs such as prescribed drugs, clinic services, dental care, physical therapy, prosthetic devices, and specified medical and remedial care.  Long‑term care "optional" benefits include home and community‑based services (HCBS) waiver, personal attendant care, case management, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation (ICFs/MR). Most people now living in ICFs/MR experience severe and profound mental retardation with complex medical conditions and/or behavioral challenges. These "lifeline" services are not "optional" in the lives of those who need them.

Reduce waste by standardizing the waiver application process

Medicaid does not need to be dismantled. Every Medicaid office applies significant time and resources to reviewing waiver applications. Significant resources can be saved by standardizing this process to make evaluations of requests more objective and automated.

Congress, please do the right thing

Strong Congressional leadership is necessary to ensure that our nation’s admirable history of supporting our most vulnerable citizenry will not be lost to the chopping block. For most persons with mental retardation who rely on Medicaid for basic health care and support needs, Congress will soon be taking actions that will be truly a matter of life or death. Please oppose Medicaid cuts and caps.

Thank you.

SIDE BAR

People with disabilities are medically underserved

* “Compared with other populations, individuals of all ages with mental retardation experience poorer health and more difficulty in finding, getting to, and paying for appropriate health care.” (Surgeon General, 2002)

* “Children with special health care needs and their families represent an important underserved population. In addition, substantial disparities are present in access, satisfaction, and family impact.” (Van Dyck et al., 2004).

* “The literature documents that people with developmental disabilities experience greater difficulty in securing appropriate and affordable health care than do individuals without disabilities.” Reichard et al., 2004).

* “The Task Force on Health Care Disparities of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry is working to have citizens with developmental disabilities appropriately recognized as a medically underserved segment of our society.” (Rick Rader, 2005).

* More than 200,000 individuals with disabilities are waiting for services.

Cutting or capping Medicaid will mean that even more people will suffer without needed services.

VOR * 836 S. Arlington Heights Rd., #351 * Elk Grove Village, Illinois * 60007

877-399-4VOR ph. * 847-253-0675 fax * tamie327@hotmail.com