Tell Congress to Protect Medicaid
Beneficiaries
August 3, 2005
Issue
Medicaid cuts remain high on Congress' priority list in September
after adopting a budget resolution this spring that directs
the Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce Committees
to report out reconciliation legislation making $10 billion
in cuts over five years from the program. Both committees plan
to decide Medicaid cuts by September 16, 2005 , and they have
been considering a number of approaches to reach their target.
One option, being aggressively sought by the White House, would
make large cuts in Medicaid’s targeted case management
(TCM) services. These services are billed extensively by social
workers, and NASW is working behind the scenes to keep them
off the Committees’ cut list. Other cuts under consideration
would also seriously damage Medicaid recipients’ access
to care.
Background
Socials workers strongly support the maintenance of a strong
health insurance safety net for vulnerable populations, and
state Medicaid programs provide the most critical health care
safety net for low-income Americans. TCM services are critical
to medically fragile and disabled individuals to maintain their
lives outside of institutions by helping them to access an
array of Medicaid and support services tailored to their specific
needs. Currently, Medicaid provides coverage to 47 million
Americans including one-in-four U.S. children, 4.1 million
elderly, and seven million blind and disabled individuals.
The proposal to cut Medicaid reimbursement for case management
services would limit which services may be claimed under TCM
and lower the federal matching rate for TCM services to the
administrative matching rate of 50 percent.
Action Requested
Messages to Representatives and Senators are needed now saying
that cuts in Medicaid must protect beneficiaries and should
be shifted to programs outside of Medicaid. Secondly, any Medicaid
cuts should only target prescription drug discount prices,
which would not harm beneficiaries access to pharmaceuticals
or other needed services. While Members of Congress are home
for the August recess, it is critical that they hear from constituents
urging them to oppose cuts in Medicaid that will harm beneficiaries
. A sample letter for the August recess period is available.
The recommended letter opposes Medicaid budget cuts and supports
other initiatives important to social workers. The letter is
available on NASW’s Congress
Web.
For additional Medicaid information, please contact Jim
Finley, senior government relations associate, at jfinley@naswdc.org or
202-336-8315.
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