#108 URGENT Beckett/Deeming Waiver Advocacy Update

[Guest guest]

Dearest Advocates:

The Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Community Health budget (starting July 1, 2011) proposes implementing co-pays on services delivered to children who are enrolled in Medicaid through the Beckett/Deeming Waiver, or TEFRA option. Several health and disability advocates and attorneys are researching the federal Medicaid statute to determine if these children are excluded from co-pays. They are communicating with people in the Department of Community Health, the House Budget Office and others as needed. As soon as they have a definitive answer, they will issue that information.

In the meantime, please call your State Senator and State Representative and let them know how co-pays for services your child receives under Beckett/Deeming Waiver would be financially or administratively difficult for your family or your child's providers.

To find your legislators go to: http://www.votesmart.org/ You will just need to input your address to find out how to contact them directly. Phone calls are always best with a follow-up email. I also recommend that you cc: Governor Deal on your emails to keep him informed on how important this issue is to the disability population. He is new and needs to understand our issues! His email address is: Georgia.Governor@...

This is my position and concerns on this issue and why it is a VERY bad proposal:

As a tax payer, I can find no better way to use my hard earned tax payer dollars than to use it to help children, especially children with disabilities to grow up to be happy, self sufficient adults that have every opportunity needed in life to maximize their full potential. The Medicaid Deeming/ Beckett Waiver a lifeline to many families.

Here is my list of reasons why this proposal should NOT be implemented:

1. This should be viewed as an additional “tax†to families of children with disabilities.

2. Medicaid is already secondary insurance to most families in the waiver program (lastest numbers were at 78%) Therefore, primary insurance is paying for the majority of medical costs associated with the child. Our families are already paying for primary healthcare insurance now.

3. Parents are already paying for many items out of pocket that are not covered by Medicaid or their primary healthcare insurance (that "typical" families do not have to worry about). Examples: music therapy, behavioral therapy, diapers and wipes, calorie enhancers, Pediasure, food supplements, and many over the counter drugs due to on-going sickness.

4. The more costs placed on the parents, the greater the likelihood that some children will need to be institutionalized (which would be a greater cost to the State).

5. Medicaid continues to make "adjustments" to their program that is costing our families more money every day. This includes not paying for as many prescriptions and therapy and making more difficult to receive a prior authorization for those services (even when documentation of need is supported)

6. There are very few families that I'm aware have the time and energy to deal with another issue in the Medicaid program like co-pays. The cost of DCH to implement such a program seems to offset the few families that would be affected by this change.

7. There are already not enough providers that accept Medicaid for families; this will just be another reason for providers to not accept Medicaid due to MORE paperwork!

8. In the proposal it states the following: “Increase existing member copayments and implement new co-payments for members enrolled in the TEFRA option†Savings = $3,496.591. My question: how will this be a savings when there will be enormous adminstrative costs to set up a new program since the Beckett/Deeming waiver families are such a SMALL % of the entire Medicaid population and most have private healthcare insurance too.

I hope the above information will help you in your discussions with your legislators. As you can imagine, I have a very limited amount of time due to ’s cancer treatment but felt this was a VERY IMPORTANT issue that I needed to get involved with due to my advocacy efforts with the Beckett/Deeming waiver for many years.

Please be patient if I do not respond quickly to your emails. I have tried to put as much information as possible into this newsletter so YOU can get involved to make a change. does not have the Beckett/Deeming Waiver – he has the NOW waiver but I felt that as a parent of a child with a disability…WE ALL need to work together for the good of the ENTIRE disability populations.

Please take a moment and contact your legislators. We have a new Governor and legislators…They need to hear from us.

Thanks in advance for your support on this important issue.United- We Will Make A Difference!Heidi J. (Proud Mother to - 11 years old with Down syndrome & Leukemia and - 9 years old)If you would like to receive 's updates or post a prayers, please go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/prayforjacobmoore or www.teamjacob.org. To make a donation in 's honor for childhood cancer research, please go to: http://www.active.com/donate/jumpingforjacob. To watch 's Cancer Journey video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GjPfmIZ76g For disability information and previous newsletters, please go to www.heidijmoore.com . "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!" The material contained in this e-mail is for general information only. It is not intended in any way to provide or offer legal advice. To obtain legal advice please consult with your attorney or a qualified legal representative.