LKiChoice understands your concerns about the current state of affairs in Washington. With concern to Medicaid funding access and what it means for your supports and services. We want to point you to information and resources that can help answer your questions.
A significant vote is approaching in Congress. This vote concerns a budget plan that may cut Medicaid funding. These cuts could impact services for people with disabilities.
February Vote Threatens To Impact Medicaid Funding Access
Proposed Medicaid Funding Access Cuts
The House Budget Committee has suggested spending cuts that may include reducing Medicaid over the next ten years. These cuts aim to fund other initiatives, such as tax reductions. However, they could limit access to essential healthcare services for many Americans. This includes people with disabilities.
This budget was passed on February 25. Cuts to federal spending could happen soon, and access to Medicaid funds may be affected. No one has specifically mentioned protecting Medicaid in the proposed spending cuts. The budget resolution now moves to the Senate for their approval. Though, the Senate is working on their own budget proposal. To move forward, the House and Senate will have to agree on an identical budget plan. If this happens, Congress can move forward with budget reconciliation, which allows Congress to pass will laws without the traditional 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
Learn more about the House GOP’s budget resolution.
Conflicting Messages from Leadership on Medicaid Funding Access
The White House has sent mixed signals about Medicaid’s future. After initial promises to protect Medicaid, support was given to a budget that includes significant Medicaid cuts. This inconsistency has caused confusion among lawmakers and the self-direction community.
Impact on Individuals with Disabilities
Medicaid funding access is vital for people with disabilities. It provides access to healthcare, therapies, and community services. Reducing Medicaid funding could:
- Limit healthcare access
- Reduce availability of necessary therapies
- Decrease support services in communities
How You Can Advocate
The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WBPDD) can support you sharing your Medicaid story. This is an important time to share why your access to Medicaid funds are important to you. There are several ways you can advocate for retaining Medicaid funds, including:
- Filling out the WBPDD’s Medicaid Matter’s Survey
- Contacting your local and state policymakers in Washington, and
- Attending Disability Advocacy Day on March 12
Medicaid Matter’s Survey
The WBPDD’s Medicaid Matter’s Survey provides a platform to share how you currently live, how you use Medicaid, what would happen for you if Medicaid is cut. With your permission, survey responses are shared by the Survival Coalition of WI, it’s member organizations, and the Arc Wisconsin on their social media platforms and with policymakers in Wisconisn.
Contact Your Policymakers
The WBPDD urges you to contact policymakers in Washington who serve you directly. These include the two Wisconsin U.S. Senators and the Representative who serves in your congressional district. To guide in you in sharing your story with these three policymakers, the WBPDD provides materials to share why you need Medicaid. See the resources below:
- WI Medicaid Fact Sheet – This fact sheet can help educate policy makers on importance of Medicaid in Wisconsin and includes information on:
- Who is covered by Medicaid
- The importance of accessing Medicaid for those covered, and
- Medicaid economic impact in Wisconsin
- Medicaid Matters to Me – Similar to the Medicaid Matter’s Survey, this sheet provides a space to share the following:
- How your life has changed with Medicaid
- What Medicaid makes possible for you
- What you still need from Medicaid
- What you will lose if Medicaid is cut.
This form will help guide your conversation with your policymaker and express how important Medicaid is to you.
- How to contact your U.S. Congressional Representatives – This map shows you which congressional district you live in. It also lists U.S. Representatives serving you. You can contact them through the phone number listed next to their name.