Call Congress: No Cuts to Medicaid!
Medicaid (called “Medi-Cal” in California) is a federal public health insurance program that is critical for the livelihood of children and adults with disabilities, older adults, and low-income families. Right now, Congress is considering $880 billion in funding cuts to Medicaid.
Over 70 million people in the United States use Medicaid to pay for health care, including 40 million children and adults with disabilities. In California, over 15 million people depend on Medicaid, comprising over half a million people with developmental disabilities and around 526,000 children with special health care needs.
Medicaid covers vital health services and supports, such as doctor appointments, medicine, treatments, medical equipment, In-Home Support Services (IHSS), Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), independent living services, employment programs, and all regional center services. It supports long-term care, covering 60% of all seniors in nursing homes.
Medicaid funds billions of dollars annually for critical special education services, including early childhood intervention, speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, behavioral health services, mental health counseling, and health-related services.
It also provides more than half of funding for children's hospitals across the country. Children with special health care needs often rely on Medicaid completely for their children's care. They rely on specialty care centers, children's hospitals, academic medical centers, and pediatric specialists trained in settings built on Medicaid.
Medicaid is a lifeline, playing a pivotal role in lowering costs for families and providing aging and disability care and comprehensive health care.
Cuts to Medicaid would be devastating for millions of the most vulnerable Americans. Cutting or defunding Medicaid would create major gaps in state funding and devastate state budgets. Any type of cut – whether as block grants, per capita caps, work requirements, or other changes – will take critical care away from people with disabilities, older adults, children, and families who cannot otherwise afford health coverage.
Please take action to protect this crucial program. Congress is finalizing proposed cuts to be submitted to the President. TAKE ACTION NOW!
Complete the form below to CALL members of Congress urging them to protect Medicaid!
After completing the form, you will be automatically directed to a page with talking points and receive an automated call connecting you to your US Senators and US House Representative. If you would like to see the talking points prior to submitting, click here.
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Campaign created by Parents Helping Parents in partnership with FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, Familiy Voices of California, and Friends of Children with Special Needs.