Stop disastrous Medicaid cuts! Contact your Senators and tell them to support the Smith-Bingaman amendment

I am writing today to ask you to please contact your state's U.S. senators and tell them to support the Smith-Bingaman amendment to strike the $15 billion in Medicaid cuts from the budget resolution and create a bi-partisan Medicaid Commission. I as you to do this today because I am Medicaid beneficiary — a beneficiary of the sort that most people don’t think of when they think of Medicaid recipients.

I am writing to ask you to please support the Smith-Bingaman amendment
to strike the $15 billion in Medicaid cuts from the budget resolution
and create a bi-partisan Medicaid Commission.



I am writing to you as a Medicaid beneficiary — a beneficiary of the
sort that most people don’t think of when they think of Medicaid
recipients.



On my weblog I have posted a
recording of the speech I gave
at the Medicaid Matters Forum in Rochester on Saturday. (I could not
get it to upload here.) At that forum, as it turns out, the only media
representative present was a cameraman from R-News (Time-Warner’s local
news, on cable) — no reporter. The only legislator present personally
was NYS Assembly member David Koon (who is already on our side) and a
representative from NYS Assembly Member Joe Errigo’s office. (All local
NYS legislators were invited.)



I can only assume that the legislators don’t care. They don’t care
because they probably knew the media would not be there to note their
absence. So YOU HAVE TO MAKE THEM CARE!



In that speech I note that I come from a
middle class background. I am educated. In fact, I have a Ph.D. I am a
college professor. I used to teach full time at SUNY Brockport. I am
currently able to work only part-time because of my various
disabilities, and for several years was unable to work at all.



These nationwide cuts — along with the cuts proposed by New York’s
Governor Pataki (eliminating, among other things, all mental health
coverage, all dental coverage, all vision coverage, all podiatry) could
drastically change my life. In fact, these cuts would make my life
absolutely unbearable, because there is no way I could pay for the
services and health care I would need to treat my numerous diagnoses
(which are multiplying by leaps and bounds now).



I write today in excruciating pain, but at least I am able to sit at my
computer.



Were it not for the health care and
other services I receive under Medicaid, I would be bedridden and would
need to be cared for either by a home health aide or in a nursing home.
That would cost Medicaid a hell of a lot more!
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Moreover, I would be unable to work at all, and therefore would not be
contributing to Social Security.



Of course, I am hardly the only person who would be affected by cuts in
Medicaid coverage. In fact, my case is hardly even close to the worst.
The stories I heard on Saturday included stories about people who died
because they were unable to get the health care they needed even under
the current system. These deaths were entirely preventable and
unnecessary.



Even if you yourself are not personally affected by Medicaid cuts, the
person who is hurt by them could be your mother, your father, your
sister, your brother, your aunt, your uncle, your cousin, your child,
your neighbor, your friend.



So please, even if you have never taken political action before, take
action on this issue.



You can go to the U.S. Senate website
to find out how to contact your state's U.S. Senators.



You can also do this by making a style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">TOLL-FREE CALL.
(See information below.) However, chances are you will find this number
busy.



Here is the information you need:



Stop $15
Billion In Medicaid Cuts



The House and Senate will vote on the FY 2006 budget resolutions during
the week of March 14, 2005.  As of now, there is little hope to
remove devastating cuts from the House budget resolution, therefore
Medicaid advocates have to make sure the Senate version has the
smallest possible cut.



That is why the Smith-Bingaman amendment striking down the cuts is so
important.



The Smith-Bingaman amendment may be considered and voted on as early as
Tuesday, March 15, 2005.   All Senators must be
contacted.  We cannot take any vote for granted.  

Remember that all Senate offices keep track of the numbers of calls and
e-mails they receive on each issue.



Sample
Letter:



Dear Senator:



Please support the Smith-Bingaman amendment to strike the $15 billion
in Medicaid cuts from the budget resolution and create a bi-partisan
Medicaid Commission. Medicaid is a lifeline for millions of children
and adults with disabilities and their families. It provides critical
health care and long term services and supports.



Congress should carefully consider any changes to the Medicaid program
and not hastily adopt drastic cuts which would harm Medicaid
beneficiaries. People with disabilities are among the poorest and most
vulnerable in our society. They are counting on you to support the
Smith-Bingaman amendment.



Thank you.



Signed by:



Your Name

Your Address