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More information     Details on the conference agreement An analysis of the conference report prepared by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Senators Hold Key to Preserving Medicaid Safety Net

December 20, 2005 —The Senate is likely to vote today on a disastrous proposal that would dismantle the Medicaid federal health care safety net. The budget reconciliation conference agreement (S. 1932), approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week, would especially harm children and people with mental illnesses.

Please Act Immediately!
 
Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and  Mike DeWine (R-OH) may be the key votes. Their contact information appears below, or call the toll free hotline at 800-426-8073 donated by the American Friends Service Committee.  Ask them to:

Vote “No” on the budget reconciliation conference agreement!

Low-income children and adults with mental illness who rely on Medicaid for necessary treatment will be harmed by the changes approved by the House, now before the Senate. The following are just a few of the egregious changes:

• Remodeling Medicaid benefits on private insurance plans would severely restrict  the access to mental health services for adults and many children.  Some children would lose the coverage they now have through Medicaid’s Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT).
• Increases in Medicaid co-payments and premiums (and authority to deny care to those who do not, or cannot pay) would make the poorest and sickest citizens significantly less likely to seek treatment. 
• Limits on payment to states for Medicaid targeted case management services (TCM) would undermine access by children and adults with mental illnesses to an array of needed services.
  (See the Administration’s proposed cuts.)

Target Senators:
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN),  (202) 224-5641
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA),  (202) 224-4254
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME),  (202) 224-2523
Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), (202) 224-2315