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The budget battle is now moving to the Senate floor
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Lisa Webber
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Mar 09, 2004 08:18 PST
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Information Forwarded from Families
Budget Alert: Medicaid and SCHIP Amendments on Senate Floor
Wed. and Thurs
The budget battle is now moving to the Senate floor. On Wednesday
and Thursday (March 10 and 11), the full Senate is expected to vote
on three key health amendments to the budget resolution. We need
your action right away to help win these changes in the Senate resolution!
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Call both of your U.S. Senators now. Ask them
to support all three of these important amendments:
(1) an amendment to "strike the 'reconciliation instruction'" that will force
an estimated $11 billion in Medicaid cuts over five years;
(2) an amendment that will allow Congress to consider legislation later
this year providing extra help to the states for Medicaid. This legislation
will continue last year's increase in the Federal Medical Assistance
Percentage or FMAP. It will provide for a revenue-neutral provision
(meaning Congress will have to find a way to pay for it, such as by closing
a tax loophole) that could extend essential help to the states and permit
them to avoid some major Medicaid cuts this July 1, when the temporary
FMAP increase enacted last year is set to expire; and
(3) an amendment to ensure that State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP) money that is not being used in certain states can be
reallocated to states that have shortfalls and kids on waiting lists instead
of reverting-unused-to the Treasury. This amendment will ensure that
$1.2 billion allocated to certain states that have not been able to use all
the money is sent in whole or in part to the many states who do not have
enough SCHIP money. This amendment could help provide health care
to hundreds of thousands of children in very low-income families.
WHY IT MATTERS: Please call your Senators soon: If we can't win these
issues in the budget process, we basically have no hope for health
improvements for the rest of the year. We don't yet have the names of the
specific Senators who will be offering each of these amendments-that's
still being worked out. As soon as we have names, we'll send them to you.
But you do not need the names of the amendment sponsors to make the call:
Offices will understand the issues!
We will probably see the House Budget Committee proposal tomorrow
evening (Tuesday the 9th) or Wednesday and will send you details then.
It is expected to be worse than the Senate Budget proposal. A good showing
on these Senate floor amendments will strengthen the hand of the Senate in negotiating with the House on their deeper cuts!
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD: Click here to send this alert on to a friend.
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--
Mara K. Youdelman
Staff Attorney
National Health Law Program
1101 14th Street NW, Suite 405
Washington, DC 20005
youde-@healthlaw.org
ph: (202) 289-7661
fax: (202) 289-7724
www.healthlaw.org
Lisa Webber
Consumers for Affordable Health Care
PO Box 2490
Augusta, ME 04338-2490
"Advocating the right to health care for every man, woman and child"
www.mainecahc.org
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