Action Alert: Extended Medicaid Dollars for States in Jeopardy, Call Your Senators Today!

Background Information:

The U.S. Senate returned this week from recess and has begun work on H.R. 4213, legislation that once included a six-month extension of the Enhanced Match (FMAP) for Medicaid. Last week, the House discarded the $24 billion FMAP Provision.

Senate Leadership has re-inserted the FMAP provision into H.R. 4213. If the FMAP extension is not included in the final bill it will mean major consequences for state budgets and the ability of people with disabilities to live in the community, as well as funding for some IL Centers.

Kansas is one of about 30 states that have already included the FMAP extension in their budgets. Kansas has no back-up plan to fill the $131 million budget deficit that will occur if it does not pass.

Act Now:

Please make a quick phone call to Senators Brownback and Roberts. Urge the senators to support extending funding for state Medicaid programs?

It only takes 2 minutes of your time, but phone calls make a big impact. Just follow the directions below:

Dial 1-888-340-6521 (number provided by FamiliesUSA) to make a toll-free call to Senator Brownback.
Follow the prompts to be connected to the senator's office.
A staff member will likely answer:

Tell him or her that you are calling to urge the senator to support including funding for state Medicaid programs in the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 (H.R. 4213).
Without this funding, Kansas will be forced to consider severe cuts to Medicaid programs that pay for Kansans with disabilities to get the help they need to maintain their independence.
Without this funding, many of them may be forced to move out of their homes and into institutions where it costs nearly three times as much to provide the same services they were getting at home!

Note: Some of the information provided is taken from a previous alert from FamiliesUSA or NCIL.