Congress is on a fast track to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and adopt the Republican-led American Health Care Act (AHCA). The AHCA would make drastic cuts to the Medicaid program. The level of cuts over time would decimate the Medicaid program. After postponing the vote yesterday, the House plans to vote on the bill this afternoon.
Yesterday the White House and various elements of the House Republicans met to continue discussions and negotiations to secure enough Republican votes to pass the AHCA. Among issues raised were pre-existing conditions and raising health costs for in those in their 50’s and 60’s before they become eligible for Medicare. Also under discussion are the ten main health conditions currently included in the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA). These include rehabilitation services, mental health care, emergency services. There are two camps that oppose the current version of AHCA: Democrats and the House Freedom Caucus, comprised of the 40 most conservative House Republicans.
Medicaid provides health care and long-term services to low income children and adults, people with disabilities and seniors that maintain the health, function, independence and well-being of 10 million enrollees with disabilities. The original version of the AHCA as proposed by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan introduces funding caps that would be devastating to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who rely upon home and community services in the Medicaid waiver. Prior to this Medicaid Waiver program, hundreds of thousands of people with (I/DD) developmental disabilities were warehoused in state institutions. We cannot revert to the era when children and adults and their families could not obtain home and community services.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated 24 Million people would lose benefits under the original version of the AHCA. Amendments are being considered and added in order to obtain support of the House Freedom Caucus that wants more cuts; however, each change made to court the House Freedom Caucus has the potential to lose votes from moderate House Republicans. The CBO has not been able to determine or estimate the cost and impact of the potential new amendments to the AHCA nor are the amendments public at this time. Much is transpiring as the GOP tries to marshal support of its members and the future of the ACHA at this time is uncertain.
Your voice needs to be heard! Go to www.thearc.org for immediate action you can take. Click here to find your U.S. Senators and Congress people.
The Arc Maryland is compiling information and real life stories of Marylanders to educate legislators about how cuts to the federal Medicaid Program would impact the 23,000 Marylanders with I/DD and hundreds of children with autism who rely upon Medicaid Waivers that provide home and community services. Click here to read the fact sheet. If you are a person with I/DD or a family member and would like to share your story and photo click here (the accompanying release must also be completed and attached in order for your story to be shared). Your stories are vital to educate legislators about the impact of proposed funding caps and cuts to the Medicaid program!
On March 20, 2017 Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, John Sarbanes, and Jamie Raskin led a rally in Annapolis to petition Governor Hogan to respond to inquiries about his position on the American Health Care Act. The AHCA will cut health care services to 350,000 Maryland citizens. Tens of thousands of Maryland residents affected are citizens with developmental disabilities.
Congressman Cummings said that he is begging Governor Hogan to “Stand up and add your voice to people who are forcefully and publicly opposing the American Health Care Act.”