Fw: Budget Cuts Loom on the Horizon

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To: lrgreen_4@...

Sent: Thu, June 2, 2011 5:03:08 PM

Subject: Budget Cuts Loom on the Horizon

 

 

 

June 2, 2011

 

Background

Last week, the U.S. Senate voted down the Budget Resolution passed by the House

of Representatives by a vote of 40 to 57. The House of Representatives passed

this budget plan in April. The resolution included $770 billion in Medicaid cuts

over 10 years and would very likely end Medicaid as a guaranteed benefit.

Medicaid is a state/federal program that funds virtually ALL adult services

including long term support services that enable people with disabilities to

live and work independently in the community. These include such services as:

* In-home support with such task as cooking, cleaning, bill-paying, making

medical appointments, other tasks associated with running a household;

* Transportation assistance;

* Job training and on the job support services;

* Other therapies needed by the individual to maintain functioning.

Medicaid also funds services for children in many states. These services can

include respite care, after-school services and other in-home support services.

Under any plan in which there are large reductions in federal spending on

Medicaid the burden of paying for services would fall to the states that would

be likely be forced not only to eliminate services but to deny new applicants.

Advocates expect that even though the Senate rejected the House Budget

Resolution, similar proposals will be introduced in the Senate.

Action Needed

Congressional representatives care the most about what their constituents (the

people who vote them into office) say and the impact their actions have on them!

The House of Representatives is in recess from June 6-12. It is extremely

important that people who care about these issues, as should all parents,

relatives and friends of children with Down syndrome, talk to their

Representatives while they are in their home states.

Some of the ways in which you can communicate with your elected officials

include:

* Town hall meetings -- attend these meetings and speak up! Tell your story and

how these cuts will affect your child.

* Make an appointment to meet your elected official in their home office.

* If possible, attend events where your elected official will be present.

* Write a letter to your Senator and Representative and tell them to oppose

efforts to cut Medicaid.

NDSC recognizes the importance of reducing the federal deficit. However,

reducing the deficit at the expense of society's most vulnerable individuals

will be a devastating blow to the disability movement and the people for whom we

advocate!

 

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