- FMAP is moving in the SenateDear VOR members and friends:
As earlier reported, efforts in the Senate to pass a temporary increase
in the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP/Medicaid) have been
successful and widely supported. The most recent vote showed Senators in
favor of this provision 75-24.
Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) (Chairman and
Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee) are now working to include
the FMAP provision in the "Provider Give-Back" bill, a bill that
is passed every year and has already passed the House. If included in the
Senate version of the "give-back" bill, then FMAP could be
considered when the House and the Senate versions of the
"give-back" bill meet in Conference Committee.
That's the good news. The bad news is that Senators Baucus and Grassley
are proposing an FMAP provision that would give states about half of what
has already passed the Senate. The earlier vote supported a $9 billion
package. The Baucus/Grassley measure is about $4.5 billion.
VOR members and friends must act now and reach Members of the Senate. Our
message is twofold: (1) Loud support for the Senate's continued support of
an FMAP bill; and (2) Maintain the funding ($9 billion) amount already
passed by the Senate.
A template letter is shared below for your use. Given that Congress is
scheduled to adjourn next week, you must fax your message, or call your
Senators, immediately. All the information you need to respond is shared
below.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Sincerely,
Tamie Hopp
Executive Director
- ACTION ALERT: Your calls and faxes to Senators needed!WHY
People with mental retardation require uninterrupted services and
supports. The budget shortfalls in many states are causing lawmakers to
consider budget cuts, including Medicaid. The Congressional proposals to
temporarily increase federal Medicaid spending recognize this urgent
state-level need and will go a long way towards helping to remedy this
temporary situation.
WHO
Your Senators. Contact information follows.
WHERE
You can call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Direct contact information, including in most cases e-mail and fax
numbers, can be accessed by visiting http://www.vor.net
(bottom of home page), or at http://congress.org.
These links will also tell you who your Senators are by typing your zip
code.
If you prefer to write with your concerns, a fax or e-mail is necessary.
A template letter is shared below for your use.
WHEN
NOW!
WHAT
If you decide to write (by e-mail or fax), a template letter is below.
If you call, here is the message you can use:
"I support Senate efforts to pass a measure that will temporarily
increase federal Medicaid spending. I ask that funding levels previously
approved by the Senate -- approximately $9 billion -- be maintained and not
cut. I am a member of Voice of the Retarded and we feel this provision will
help ensure that Americans with mental retardation do not suffer from
devastating Medicaid program cuts in the coming years."
- Template letter
DATE
The Honorable Jane Doe
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Doe:
Please support Senate efforts to temporarily increase the Federal
Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP).
I am a member of Voice of the Retarded. I have been very pleased with VOR
reports that indicate broad Senate support for a temporary increase of FMAP.
I understand, however, that recent efforts would decrease the amount of
federal support that the Senate approved earlier from approximately $9
billion to about half that amount.
VOR supports a full array of quality residential services and supports
for people with mental retardation. Adequate funding for all types and
levels of services is required to ensure that high quality programs are
available for all persons with mental retardation. Given the dire situation
facing most state budgets, additional federal support is required so that
Americans with mental retardation do not suffer from devastating Medicaid
program cuts in coming years.
Thank you in advance for supporting efforts to temporarily increase
federal Medicaid funding. Such assistance is necessary to help avert or
reduce the magnitude of state cuts to Medicaid, and other programs, that
serve vulnerable populations, including people with mental retardation.
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE/FAX
E-MAIL
- VOR Position: Voice of the Retarded Supports a Temporary Increase of
Medicaid FMAPVoice of the Retarded
5005 Newport Drive, Ste. 108
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
847-253-6020
847-253-6020 fax
vor@compuserve.com
April 2002
Voice of the Retarded Supports a Temporary Increase of Medicaid FMAP
Voice of the Retarded (VOR) supports Congressional proposals to
temporarily increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to
help ensure that States are able to maintain important Medicaid-supported
residential and health care programs for Americans with disabilities.
States are struggling to accommodate Medicaid shortfalls. As the economy
weakens and the tax base in most states continues to erode, budgets suffer
and demands increase. People with disabilities, including people with mental
retardation, stand to suffer the most if access to residential, health care
and other services is cut. For people with chronic health care conditions
accessing uninterrupted services is often a matter of life or death.
Current Congressional proposals suggest temporary, across-the board,
increases for all fifty states. Some proposals also offer additional
increases for states with higher than average unemployment rates and delay
scheduled decreases in Medicaid funding.
It is vital that Americans with disabilities, including people with
mental retardation, not be left behind in the ongoing plans to stimulate the
nation's economy. Proposals to temporarily increase federal Medicaid
spending offers some level of security for our nation's most vulnerable
citizens. VOR does ask that any increase in Medicaid spending result in
direct support to the people in need, rather than increased administrative
costs.
VOR is pleased to join the National Governor's Association, The Arc of
the United States, American Health Care Association and other national
organizations, in support of a temporary increase in federal Medicaid
funding to provide essential fiscal relief to states. Such assistance is
necessary to help avert or reduce the magnitude of state cuts to Medicaid,
and other programs, that serve vulnerable populations, including people with
mental retardation.
