Medicaid in Congress: Serious Threat to Health Care

Both houses of Congress are developing legislation which would greatly reduce Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) coverage over the next seven years, and at the same time remove Federal standards for health care for the poor by converting the remaining Medicaid money into medical block grants that each state can spend as it likes. President Clinton might or might not veto these plans. Whether or not these proposals become law will depend on how much the public mobilizes against them.

These Medicaid changes are extremely serious for persons with HIV and other major illnesses. Medicaid is the only source of medical care for at least 40 percent of adults with AIDS; and 90 percent of children with AIDS also use Medicaid. According to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Medicaid provides approximately $3.5 billion in HIV/AIDS care -- six times the amount funded by the Ryan White CARE program.

The National Association of People with AIDS, in a September 26 fax, called these Congressional Medicaid proposals "a train wreck that doesn't have to happen." AIDS Action Council, also on September 26, suggested that organizations approach their Congressional representatives, and also reach out to the press -- both the mainstream press, and also the community press, such as lesbian and gay, people of color, and women's weeklies, to document the human impact of these cuts and so-called "reforms." Also, an organization sign-on letter is available from any of the groups below.

How to Help

For more information about how you can help, contact the Coalition for Emergency Action on Medicaid Funding, through any of the people below:

* Jeff Crowley, Cornelius Baker, or Amy Slemmer, Nat'l Association of People with AIDS, 202/898-0414;

* Paul DiDonato, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 415/487-3096;

* Susan M. Dooha, Gay Men's Health Crisis, 212/337-3342;

* Ernest Hopkins, Cities Advocating for Emergency AIDS Relief, 202/429-8847;

* Michael Kink, Housing Works, 212/966-1300;

* Christine Lubinski or Allan Yount or Deborah Ashner, AIDS Action Council, 202/986-1300;

* Miquelina Maldonado or Margaret Burton-Owens, National Minority AIDS Council, 202/483-6622;

* David Lewis, Anne Donnelly, or Ryan Clary, Project Inform, 415/558-8669.