AIDS Issues Update: Features:
Advocacy Success!: Republicans Nix Plan to Cut “Optional” Medicaid Services
Thank you! On Wednesday health care advocates mobilized and called New York State leaders decrying cuts to Medicaid “optional” services. We are happy to report that all parties have taken this harmful item off the agenda for the state’s deficit reduction plan.
While health care advocates must remain vigilant that the cuts aren’t inserted when the parties meet on Monday, this change is a huge relief for all people who receive these “optional” services. The plan would have cut services including dental care, home health aids and psychological counseling from Medicaid.
“While the Minority Conferences may think that this is all about politics, the lives of people with disabilities hang in the balance. We’ve put forth substantive and rational cost-savings proposals, but all they’ve had to offer are unconscionable cuts to vital Medicaid services, such as personal care. Personal care allows people with disabilities to live independently at home,” said Bruce Darling, CEO of the Center for Disability Rights.
The Medicaid Matters coalition, of which Housing Works is a member, summarized what these cuts would do, in case you want to get the shivers:
Our seniors, people with disabilities and children are being endangered.
- Children without health care cannot fight H1N1.
- Adults without wheelchairs will be imprisoned in their homes.
- Diabetics with no dental care will rapidly develop uncontrolled bacterial and fungal infections that can be life-threatening.
- Children using ventilators at home will be institutionalized and lose their childhoods.
- Individuals without eyeglasses or hearing aids won’t be safe on the streets.
- Patients who don’t understand their doctors because they speak a different language will take the wrong dose of medication and need hospital care.
- Seniors who can’t get help with preparing a meal or shop for the necessities in life will undoubtedly end up in nursing homes that will only cost taxpayers even more money.
- Families on the edge will break without clinical psychological help.
Your inside source for in-depth activism news is updated daily by Staff Writer, Julie Turkewitz
