Before Congress recesses for the holidays, select members of the House and Senate will negotiate to produce a final budget reconciliation bill that could result in significant cuts to the Medicaid program. This bill will be a compromise between the differing House and Senate bills that were passed by each chamber in November. The final budget reconciliation bill will be voted on by the House and the Senate by December 22. The AACAP is concerned that it may include the House-passed cuts of over $9.5 billion to the Medicaid program. The House bill proposes increases in cost sharing for Medicaid beneficiaries and would eliminate coverage for health care services, including targeted case management services for disabled people. It would also allow states to reduce eligibility for Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit for children in favor of cash accounts that would provide catastrophic-only, high deductible coverage. The EPSDT benefit provides low-income and disabled children with comprehensive mental services.

AACAP members contacted their House Representatives in November in opposition to the House budget bill's Medicaid cuts and as a result, a significant number of moderate Republicans voted against the bill. AACAP member action is required again to ensure that enough Republican moderates in both the House and the Senate oppose the Medicaid cuts we have outlined above. If enough moderates oppose the Medicaid cuts, the leadership will be forced to scale them back. ACTION: AACAP members and friends are asked to call their House Representative and two Senators to request their opposition to the House-passed Medicaid cuts. Call 1-202-224-3121 to reach the Capitol Switchboard and give your zip code if you do not know the name of your House Representative. When connected to the office, ask for the Health Legislative Assistant. If you leave a voicemail message, include your name and phone number. A sample message is as follows: "I am a constituent and a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist from (your town), and I am calling to share my concern about the current budget reconciliation bill before the House, specifically the cuts to Medicaid and its Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment program eligibility. I urge Rep.___ to protect Medicaid's EPSDT program in the budget reconciliation bill. The EPSDT benefit provides comprehensive health services, including mental health care, for low-income and disabled children and families. Without the EPSDT program, many of these children will not receive the healthcare that they need. Please maintain the EPSDT benefit for all low-income and disabled children in state Medicaid programs."

After you have talked with your Representative's office, please email the AACAP office at nmoore@aacap.org.

If you have questions or would like more assistant in contacting your member of Congress, please call 800. 333. 7636, ext. 126, or e-mail Nuala Moore at nmoore@aacap.org.