Negotiations
are underway to include substantial Medicaid cuts in a compromise Senate/House
version of the federal budget resolution; talks which may overturn the result
of a March 17 Senate vote that blocked the cuts previously proposed. In that
vote, seven Republican senators joined Democrats in voting for passage of
the Smith/Bingaman amendment, a provision that would restore Medicaid cuts
and establish a bipartisan Medicaid commission to address the program in its
entirety outside of the budget process. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), chairman
of the Senate Budget Committee, is working with his colleagues to prepare
for participation in a conference committee with House members that will attempt
to pass a budget resolution acceptable to both bodies of Congress. National
lobbyists have been informed that Chairman Gregg is asking Senators to accept
substantial Medicaid cuts in order to compromise with House members who are
seeking up to $20 billion in cuts to the program.
Pennsylvania senior senator Arlen Specter was one of the seven republicans
who voted on March 17 to restore proposed cuts and create a bipartisan commission.
PCPA members need to contact Specter’s office to both thank him for
his support as well as encourage him to stand strong in the face of new opposition.
Members are encouraged to remind Specter of the issues that arise if broad
cuts are made to Medicaid funding:
- Medicaid plays a specialized role in the nation’s health financing system – providing the bulk of the funding to care for people with severe disabilities and long-term care needs. It provides about 60 percent of the funding for public mental health services.
- It is unwise to single out Medicaid as a major source of savings to reduce the federal deficit. Instead of including modifications to Medicaid in the budget process, a measured and well-considered approach should be used. The bipartisan Medicaid commission allows for thoughtful decisions to be made about changing the program, as opposed to an approach that relies upon broad cuts without close scrutiny of the policy issues.
Please contact Senator Specter’s healthcare staff person, Mr. John Meyers, at 202-224-4254 and ask that the Senator continue to oppose Medicaid cuts. Questions about federal Medicaid issues may be directed to Kris Ericson or Melissa DiSanto Simmons at the association.
