Fw: Update on women's health care funding and legislation

[Guest guest]

TX Ladies, Please take action!

Thanks, mm

Martha Murdock, DirectorNational Silicone Implant Foundation | Dallas Headquarters"Supporting Survivors of Medical Implant Devices"4416 Willow LaneDallas, TX 75244-7537

----- Original Message ----- From: Texas Campaign for Women's Health

Action Alert

Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 1:08 PM

Subject: Update on women's health care funding and legislation

****Texas Campaign for Women's Health Alert****Please forward widely!In this message:1) Hearing on Women's Health Waiver bill scheduled for Monday! Your testimony needed!2) Update on Wohlgemuth Rider3) Update on local impact of Medicaid and CHIP cuts from the Center for Public Policy Priorities******************************Dear Advocates,HB 2606, by Rep. (D-Houston) is scheduled for a hearing in the House Human Services Committee on Monday. The bill calls for the establishment of a demonstration project -- through the application of an 1115 Medicaid Waiver -- to expand women's health care services. Women 18-years or older with an income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level would qualify for services including: (1) medical history; (2) physical examination; (3) counseling and education on contraceptive methods; (4) provision of contraceptives; (5) health screenings, including screening for: (A) diabetes; ( cervical cancer; © breast cancer; (D) sexually transmitted diseases; (E) hypertension; (F) cholesterol; and (G) tuberculosis; (6) risk assessment; and (7) referral of medical problems to appropriate providers.The bill calls for a simplified eligibility process and 12-months continuous eligibility for women who qualify. It's a great bill and you can help it pass!

What you can do right now:€ Contact members of the House Human Services Committee TODAY and tell them you support HB 2606.Chair: Rep. Uresti (D, San ) Phone: (512) 463-0714 Fax: (512) 463-1448Vice-Chair: Rep. Elliott Naishtat (D-Austin) Phone: (512) 463-0668 Fax: (512) 463-8022Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson) Phone: (512) 463-0538 Fax: (512) 463-6551Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center) Phone: (512) 463-0556 Fax: (512) 463-5896Rep. McCall (R-Plano) Phone: (512) 463-0594 Fax: (512) 463-5896Rep. Sid (R-ville) Phone: (512) 463-0628 Fax: (512) 463-3644Rep. Dora Olivo (D-Rosenberg) Phone: (512) 463-0494 Fax: (512) 463-1403Rep. Elvira Reyna (R-Mesquite) Phone: (512) 463-0464 Fax: (512) 463-1492Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San ) Phone: (512) 463-0532 Fax: (512) 463-7675€ Send written testimony to me with your personal stories of how expanding services in this way could have benefited or will benefit you. Fax your letters to me at 512-448-3373; or email them to LRamsey@....*******************************Update on Wohlgemuth rider to appropriations billYour calls last week made a difference! The House Appropriations Committee voted Article IX out of committee without the Wohlgemuth rider attached. This is good news! The only time such an expansive rider covering all state agencies could be offered now is at the end of the budget clean-up process. Although it is unlikely to be presented again at that time, we are still extremely concerned that Rep. Wohlgemuth may offer another rider with the same language that would affect the Department of Health, or the Family Planning Program in particular.Please continue to call House Appropriations committee members, and your own representatives, and urge them not to support these restrictions on funding for women's health care and family planning.********************************(from Center for Public Policy Priorities)MEDICAID & CHIP CUTS WILL REDUCE 04-05 HEALTH SPENDING BY $10 BILLION: Local Impact Would Be SevereCombined with the potential cuts to Medicaid, Medicaid and CHIP spending in Texas in 2004 and 2005 would be reduced by over $10 billion dollars statewide. The bulk, over $9.3 billion, of the loss would be due to Medicaid cuts. A reduction in spending of this magnitude would represent roughly a 5% reduction in total health care spending in Texas.All the dollar amounts provided include the federal matching dollars lost when state dollars are cut. For every state Medicaid dollar cut, another $1.50 in federal funds is lost, and every CHIP dollar cut results in a loss of $2.57 in federal matching funds.Impact of Proposed Medicaid Cuts in Selected Texas CountiesDollars lost & Number of Elderly and Disabled Losing Rx benefit 2004-2005 in 2005 TEXAS TOTALS $9.34 Billion 441,010 488,183 Bexar County $688.6 million 32,182 38,396 Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr $1.09 Billion 56,809 46,168 Dallas County $736.8 million 38,839 37,015 El Paso County $457.6 million 22,888 24,397 County $1.127 Billion 60,566 61,434 Lubbock $111.6 million 5,033 6,182 McLennan $116.1 million 4,927 5,975 Midland and Ector $115 million 5,872 5,734 Nueces $192 million 8,516 10,613 Tarrant County $413.2 million 20,521 20,559 County $216.3 million 10, 489 10,990 Webb County $182.3 million 9,830 7,868Major statewide impacts if Medicaid and CHIP reductions occur include: 1. 9.3 billion in reduced Medicaid spending over the 2004-2005 period;2. Overall Medicaid enrollment reduction of 441,000 below what would have occurred in 2005 under current policies, including- More than 19,000 aged or disabled Texans lose Nursing Home coverage by 2005;- At least 60,000 aged or disabled would lose Community Care benefits to help them avoid nursing home care;- More than 334,000 children are kept out of Children's Medicaid by delaying 12-month continuous eligibility and reinstating bureaucratic barriers;- 17,000 fewer pregnant women will receive prenatal care and delivery services- Over 9,000 parents impoverished by medical bills would lose Medically Needy benefits. Among persons remaining eligible for programs but losing services, over 488,000 elderly or disabled clients who receive SSI and live on less than $575 per month would lose all prescription drug benefits; - Another 145,000 very poor parents with dependent children (e.g., earning less than $395 a month for a family of 3) would also lose prescription benefits.3. Proposed CHIP roll-backs would reduce 2005 enrollment by 170,000 (due to reducing the coverage period to 6 months, imposing higher premiums, and imposing a 90-day wait before coverage takes effect). If CHIP were eliminated 516,000 children would lose health coverage.4. A 33% reduction in payments to acute care providers, would reduce total remaining Medicaid spending statewide by about $3.3 billion.What Will Happen Next, and What YOU Can Do:1. Your continued input to Legislators is critical, along with your message that you will support them in seeking the additional revenue needed to forestall the human and economic damage these cuts would create. 2. Contacts with the Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor are also important. 3. Finally, don't forget to weigh in with your county and city officials. Remind them that your local tax base will have to absorb these economic losses, and your local health care providers will have to deal with the individuals who no longer are supported by federal and state funding.To find out how to contact your State Representatives, Senator, and the Speaker of the House, Lieutenant Governor, and Governor, go to Texas Legislature Online at www.capitol.state.tx.us <http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/> . ********************Lesley RamseyProject DirectorTexas Campaign for Women's Health905-A W. OltorfAustin, Texas 78704(512) 448-4857(512) 448-3373 fax