Call Now to Stop Medicaid Cuts and Repeal of Affordable Care Act – Congress Is Moving Fast

Congress is on a fast track to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and to make drastic cuts to the Medicaid program. The level of cuts proposed over time would devastate the Medicaid program.  

When will this happen? IT IS HAPPENING NOW. The House of Representatives introduced the American Health Care Act yesterday, and is moving quickly to move the bill through Committee process starting tomorrow, March 8^th, and vote on it by the end of March.  The Senate is planning to vote on the House bill before the mid-April recess. 

We urgently need people with disabilities, their families, and advocates to reach out to their Senators and Representatives and tell them to stop the repeal of the ACA and the cuts to Medicaid.  The most important message you can share is the importance of the ACA and Medicaid on the lives of persons with disabilities. Every office needs to hear from constituents about why the ACA and Medicaid provide essential health care and other critical supports to people with disabilities and their families.

Message 1: Do NOT cut and cap Medicaid! 

Medicaid is a partnership between the federal and state governments with matching state and federal funds. Under a Medicaid per capita cap, the federal government would set a limit on how much to reimburse states based on enrollment in the Medicaid program. Unlike current law, funding would not be based on the actual cost of providing services. Much like the proposed block grants, the intent of the per capita caps is to restructure the program and save money for the federal government, which will inevitably lead to cuts in funding in the states. 

The negative impact for Medicaid recipients could include:

●      Losing home and community-based services and supports. Waiting lists would quickly grow.

●      Losing other critical services such as personal care, mental health, prescription drugs, and rehabilitative services.

●      Shifting the costs to individuals or family members to make up for the cuts in federal funding. The costs of providing health care and long term services and supports will not go away, but will be shifted to individuals, parents, states, and providers. 

For additional information, see CCD’s fact sheet about Medicaid. 

Message 2: Do not repeal the Affordable Care Act!

The ACA is the most significant law for people with disabilities since the Americans with Disabilities Act:

●      Because of the ACA, health insurers can't deny health insurance or charge higher premiums if you have a disability or chronic condition.

●      Because of the ACA, there aren't arbitrary financial limits to how much health care you can get in a year or in your lifetime.

●      Because of the ACA, more people with disabilities and chronic health conditions are able to access health care due to the Medicaid expansion.

For additional information, see CCD’s fact sheet about the ACA.

Take Action:

Call your Senators and Representatives today 202-224-3121.  Now is the time for ACTION, every call matters!  Do not let Congress take away health care and services for millions of people and replace it with a plan that CUTS Medicaid.

Call your Governors today, find out how to contact them here. Remind your Governor what cuts to the Medicaid would mean for the state budget and why they matter to you. Share that same message with state legislators.

If you need assistance in learning how to get engaged, learn more from ASAN’s toolkit on basic civic engagement for self-advocates.

What to Say:

●     I am your constituent.

●     I am a person with a disability or I am a family member of someone with a disability or I am a professional in the disability field.

●     Do NOT repeal the ACA without a replacement that maintains or improves coverage and protections.

●     Do NOT allow restructuring and cuts to Medicaid to be part of an ACA replacement.

●     The ACA and Medicaid helps me/my family member to have health care and community based services.