WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Susan Collins has joined a group of her Republican colleagues in calling on the Senate leadership to reject cuts to the Medicaid program, which were proposed in the House version of the budget reconciliation legislation. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Collins and her colleagues are urging the leaders to support the Senate version of the bill, which is currently being negotiated with House leaders. The Senate legislation saves money in the Medicaid program by reducing waste and abuse without negatively affecting families and seniors who rely on the Medicaid program.
“Medicaid is such a critical program for low-income families and elderly individuals in Maine and throughout the nation. We should not be balancing the budget on the backs of our families who rely on this important program,” said Senator Collins.
In their letter the Senators wrote, “Medicaid is a vitally important program that serves almost 54 million poor, disabled, chronically ill and elderly Americans. It provides a range of benefits from screenings and vaccinations for the young, to home health and long-term care for the elderly. Given the breadth and diversity of the people it helps, Congress must remain committed to the strength and viability of Medicaid.”
The letter was circulated by Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and signed by Senators Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Norm Coleman (R-MN), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Mike DeWine (R-OH), and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI).
A text of the letter is as follows:
- MORE -
- MEDICAID, 2 -
December 13, 2005
The Honorable William H. Frist The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader Minority Leader
United States Senate United States Senate
S-230 Capitol S-221 Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Majority Leader Frist:
Throughout the budget process we have been concerned about the impact to America ’s lowest income and most vulnerable from policies implemented to secure budget savings. We were heartened by the Senate’s effort to protect these Americans by utilizing system efficiencies and eliminating waste and abuse from the Medicaid program. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives did not take a similar path. Therefore, as the Senate begins its work to reconcile the two budget reconciliation bills, we urge you to hold firm in defending the Senate’s policies regarding Medicaid.
Medicaid is a vitally important program that serves almost 54 million poor, disabled, chronically ill and elderly Americans. It provides a range of benefits from screenings and vaccinations for the young, to home health and long term care for the elderly. Given the breadth and diversity of the people it helps, Congress must remain committed to the strength and viability of Medicaid.
As indicated by the strong support from beneficiary groups, advocates and providers, the Senate bill ensures that the most vulnerable among us are not called upon to carry the burden of balancing the budget. This was accomplished by adhering to a few key principles. First, the Senate bill limits the cuts to a total of $10 billion, the savings level which the Finance Committee was instructed to achieve. The bill utilizes both Medicare and Medicaid to reach the required $10 billion in budget savings, and holds the net level of Medicaid cuts to under $5 billion. Most importantly, the Senate bill does not achieve any savings through policies that would negatively impact beneficiaries. We strongly urge you to continue to defend these principles and preserve the Senate’s policies on Medicaid in the final budget reconciliation agreement.
In particular, we are concerned with policies included in the House bill that would impose new cost-sharing requirements on beneficiaries, alter eligibility policies for long term care that impact the middle-class, and provide unlimited flexibility to states to change benefits. These proposals were debated within the Senate and soundly rejected.
We look forward to working with you on developing a conference report that can garner wide support among Senators and supporters of the Medicaid program.