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Budget Reconciliation Action Alert
November 7, 2005
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Contents
1. Contact Congress Now!
2. Template Phone Message
3. Template Fax Message
4. Congressional Contact Information
5. Key Contacts
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1. Contact Congress Now!
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The Senate has passed its Budget Reconciliation Bill -- $35 billion in cuts
to domestic programs, including $10 billion to Medicaid over five years.
The Senate Bill also includes Money Follows the Person.
The House is currently debating its Budget Reconciliation Bill, which it
hopes to pass by the end of this week -- $54 billion in cuts domestic
programs, including $11 billion to Medicaid over five years. The House Bill
also includes a provision to amend the Home and Community-Based Services
Waiver (Section 3131) and Cash and Counseling (Section 3132).
Advocates largely agree that the House Medicaid cuts affect more directly
and negatively Medicaid beneficiaries.
The differences between the House and Senate Bills will be negotiated in
conference, a process by which all differences are ironed out so that the
Senate and House bills are identical. It is expected that after the House
passes its bill this week, conferees will be chosen and a negotiated bill
could reach the floors of the House and Senate for final vote before
Thanksgiving.
WE MUST ACT QUICKLY.
THE HOUSE WILL VOTE THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10.
To identify your two Senators and one Representative, visit
http://www.congress.org.
Through this website you can also get phone and
fax numbers.
A template message for your use is below. All you have to do is sign your
name, add your contact information and FAX it to your Senators and
Representative. In the alternative, you can call your Senators and
Representative. A template phone message is also shared below.
Please act today. We donÆt have any time to lose. THANK YOU!!
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2. Template Phone Message
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I am constituent. My family member has mental retardation and he/she relies
heavily on Medicaid-supported services. PLEASE oppose Section 3131 of the
House Budget Reconciliation Bill and the Money Follows the Persons proposal
in the Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill. Maintenance of effort and annual
cost of living adjustments must be added to the House Budget Reconciliation
Cash and Counseling proposal to ensure beneficiaries are adequately
protected.
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3. Template Fax Message
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November 2005
Dear Senator/Rep. ________:
Congress has before it proposals to deeply cut Medicaid and other domestic
programs. The House version especially will leave some of our most
vulnerable citizens û people with mental retardation, including my family
member -- without access to critical, even life-sustaining services.
A. OPPOSE House Reconciliation Section 3131, Expanded access to home and
community services for the elderly and disabled.
Section 3131 proposes a major overhaul to the way services are paid for and
delivered. This proposal will convert the Home and Community-Based Services
(HCBS) waiver to a Medicaid state plan option, while maintaining the state
flexibility provisions inherent in a waiver. This ôwaiver without a waiverö
would give States unfettered discretion to limit services, restrict
eligibility and reduce funding û government money with virtually no
protective oversight by the federal government.
This proposal risks the health and welfare of beneficiaries. It is an
historic irresponsible use of federal dollars. Absent any effective human
or fiscal accountability, House Reconciliation Section 3131 must not pass.
B. AMEND House Reconciliation Section 3132, Optional choice of
self-directed personal assistance services (cash and counseling).
Although Section 3132 has detailed quality assurance provisions, it lacks
specific provisions for maintenance of effort and annual cost of living
adjustments (COLA) to ensure that the funds appropriated to beneficiaries
are adequate to accommodate needs over time. Section 3132 also lacks
opportunity for beneficiaries to have service plan adjustments through the
service year to reflect changing needs û changes that for some individuals
with disabilities are inevitable or for others, while unexpected,
life-threatening.
The House Reconciliation Section 3132 must be amended to specifically
require states to maintain a fiscal effort from year to year, as well as
accommodate annual COLAs. House Reconciliation Section 3132 must also
expressly allow for adjustments to the service plan to accommodate changed
needs.
C. OPPOSE Senate Reconciliation Money Follows the Person proposal
Congress is urged to oppose the Money Follows the Person provision. It
would affect the lives of people with mental retardation in Intermediate
Care Facilities for Persons with Mental Retardation, without adequate
consideration of choice, quality or fiscal accountability.
Thank you for helping to protect the services and supports needed by people
with mental retardation.
Sincerely,
Name, Address, Phone, Fax, E-Mail
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4. Congressional Contact Information
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To identify your two Senators and one Representative, visit
http://www.congress.org.
The Capitol Switchboard can also identify for your
Senators and Representative, and connect you to their offices:
1-800-426-8073.
This week, your Senators and Representative can be reached using a special
ôSave Medicaidö toll-free number: 1-800-828-0498.
At http://www.congress.org,
you can also direct phone and fax numbers.
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5. Key Contacts
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It is important that we reach EVERY Member of Congress, but the following
Congressmen are especially important contacts ---
Senate Finance Committee:
http://www.senate.gov/~finance/sitepages/committee.htm, especially û
Charles Grassley, Chair (R-IA)
Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Max Baucus, Ranking (D-MT)
John D. Rockefeller (D-WV)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
House Energy and Commerce Committee:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/108/members/members.htm, especially û
Joe Barton, Chair (R-TX)
Ralph Hall (R-TX)
Michael Bilirakis, Vice Chair (R-FL)
Fred Upton (R-MI)
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Paul Gillmor (R-OH)
Nathan Deal (R-GA)
John Dingell, Ranking (D-MI)
Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Edward Markey (D-MA)
Rick Boucher (D-VA)
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WE MUST ACT QUICKLY.
SEND YOUR FAX OR MAKE YOUR CALLS TODAY!!
THE HOUSE WILL ACT ON THURSDAY!!
THANK YOU FOR YOU PARTICIPATION
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