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Battle Not Over on Bill to Cut Medicare, Medicaid
as Advocates Attack
Democratic leader will demand record vote with
support from AARP, Catholic Charities
Dec. 22, 2005 – The battle over the Budget
Reconciliation Act is not over. The Senate passed a modified version of
the House bill with a tie-breaking vote by Vice President Cheney. Due to
the differences in the Senate bill, however, it must go back to the
House for a vote, where House Speaker Dennis Hastert has asked Democrat
leader Nancy Pelosi to agree to quick passage by "unanimous consent."
Pelosi says she does not agree and wants a record vote. Meanwhile,
advocacy groups like AARP and Catholic Charities want the House to
restore cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.
In a letter delivered to Pelosi yesterday, Hastert
said unanimous consent would "avoid unnecessary disruption in the
enactment of important program additions and reforms contained in this
legislation."
He citied the consequences of not passing the bill
now as –
● Hurricane Katrina victims would not receive $2
billion in medical aid;
● dialysis providers who accept Medicare patients will see their payment
rates frozen;
● Medicare beneficiaries will not be able to get access to new disease
management and nutrition therapy;
● doctors will see Medicare reimbursements cut by 4.4 percent;
● transitional medical assistance for families who have worked their way
off welfare would be eliminated;
● states will not get an additional $1 billion for child care
assistance;
● the Milk Income Loss Contract Program (MILC) program would not be
extended and dairy farmers would lose $50 million just for December
2005; and,
● state high risk insurance pools under Medicaid will go unfunded.
Pelosi called the bill an "immoral budget spending
bill" and added, "Just four days before Christmas, this Republican
Congress wanted to go home for the holidays, leaving a lump of coal in
the stockings of American families. That is contrary to the spirit of
this holiday season and contrary to the values of this nation.
"As it stands now, it hurts the neediest in our
country, while providing huge giveaways to managed care and drug
companies and the oil industries.
"Democrats believe this Republican bill has the
wrong priorities. That is why we will request a recorded vote where all
members return to Washington to make clear their values to the America
people. Democrats will work with our allies to fight for a budget that
represents the values and needs of all Americans."
A major ally is AARP, which delivered a letter from
CEO William D. Novelli to each member of the House saying, "AARP
strongly urges you to oppose the measure."
"The current reconciliation agreement puts the
interests of the pharmaceutical and managed care industries over the
well-being of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, wrote Novelli.
He cited the following problems in the current
Senate bill:
●
Makes it harder for vulnerable Americans needing long-term care to
qualify for Medicaid and punishing older persons who have simply helped
their families;
●
Forces some Americans to forfeit their homes in order to get long-term
care services;
●
Requires all Medicare Part B beneficiaries to pay higher premiums and
reopening the MMA, not to make improvements in the new drug benefit, but
to require those with more income to pay higher Part B premiums sooner;
and
●
Forces low-income Medicaid recipients to pay more for their care -– and
if they cannot afford to do so –- to potentially be denied care
entirely.
He said, "The final package chose to include
provisions that hurt those who need help the most, while shielding the
pharmaceutical and managed care industries."
The Democrat and AARP gained another strong ally
today – Catholic Charities USA.
"Congress has turned its back on our nation's poor
and vulnerable by slashing programs vital to the health and well-being
of our children, fragile families, the elderly, and disabled adults,"
said Rev. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA.
"This measure, with its harsh budget and program
changes, is certain to have long-term, harmful effects on countless
families across our nation."
He called the cuts "drastic" to programs such as
Medicaid, child support enforcement, child welfare, and the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
"Our Catholic tradition teaches us that society,
acting through government, has a special obligation to consider first
the needs of the poor, yet these budget cuts put a disproportionate
burden on the poor - those that can least afford it," said Fr. Snyder.
"Sadly, Congress has not met its obligation."
"These drastic cuts come at a time when increasing
numbers of working families, seniors, and disabled adults are seeking
assistance from local Catholic Charities," he said.
"A recent survey conducted by Catholic Charities
USA of more than 70 local Catholic Charities found that the nation's
most vulnerable populations - the working poor, homeless and seniors -
increasingly need financial assistance to pay for basic commodities such
as food, housing and utilities.
"Major survey findings on the growing need for help
include: 81 percent of agencies report an increase in the need from the
working poor; 64 percent cite an increase in the number of families
seeking help; 52 percent are seeing more seniors in need; and 49 percent
are seeing more homeless seeking help.
"Trapped at the bottom of the labor market,
thousands of families are unable to meet their basic needs.
Consequently, they turn to our agencies to fill in where their budgets
fall short - one month it may be food, the next they may seek
prescription co-pay assistance, and still another month they may turn to
an agency for shelter."
"This budget will only make their situation more
dire," said Fr. Larry.
According to the CCUSA survey, areas of service
with significant increases in 2005 in the number of requests for help
include:
-- 82 percent of Catholic Charities agencies have
experienced an increase in requests for financial assistance;
-- 69 percent of agencies found an increase in
requests for aid in making rent or mortgage payments;
-- 59 percent of agencies reported an increase in
the need for food;
-- 48 percent cited an increase in the need for
temporary housing; and
-- 39 percent reported an increase in the need for
prescription assistance.
Because of changes made by the Senate, the bill now
goes back to the House for consideration when it returns after the
holiday recess.
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