Fw:TX Update on funding: Keep the calls coming

[Guest guest]

Attention: Texans

Please keep your calls going on this issue!

Many 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: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 12:13 PM

Subject: Update on funding: Keep the calls coming

Texas Campaign for Women's Health Update******Please distribute widely******CONTINUE CALLING THIS WEEK TO SAVE FUNDING FOR WOMEN"S HEALTH CAREDear Advocates,Legislators on the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Health and Human Services received more than 100 calls yesterday from advocates for family planning funding. Thanks to all of you who called!We need to keep up the pressure for the rest of the week‹so if you haven¹t made your calls yet, there is still time!Here is a little feedback and misinformation several callers received yesterday:1) Staffers with Representatives Wohlgemuth and Truitt told callers that the family planning line item is still more than the current biennium, even after the proposed cuts. The Truth: This is technically true, but only because the health department anticipates a higher Medicaid usage during the next biennium (i.e., more poor people without other access to health care). They must make projections so there is adequate General Revenue (GR) in place to match the 90% federal Medicaid monies. It does not represent an actual increase in the budget for family planning.If when calling legislative offices you are told the funding is still higher than the current biennium, you must say that this is due only to anticipated Medicaid usage. They are still cutting off 59,000 women, living between 18-150% of poverty, from the only health care they have and leaving them at risk of pregnancy and undiagnosed/untreated diseases. If they become pregnant they will be eligible for Medicaid prenatal, delivery and newborn care at an average cost of $7,000 for the first year alone. 2) Some callers yesterday were told that President Bush is sending federal family planning monies ($9 million) to Texas (don¹t know why he would‹he cut it for the rest of the world!). The Truth: Health and Human Services Commissioner Albert Hawkins, a close ally of the President, confirmed last night that he had no knowledge of any such monies.

What you can do right now:Subcommittee members need to hear from advocates of funding for women¹s health care‹today and tomorrow. Callers need not call Rep. Vilma Luna as she is already on board. The name bracketed is the person who works on appropriations issues:Arlene Wohlgemuth, Subcommittee Chair (512) 463-0538, { Fell} , (512) 463-0734 { Haeber}Dawnna Dukes, (512) 463-0506, {Pamela Mcs}Craig Eiland, (512) 463-0502, {Jim Sheer}Suzanna Gratia Hupp, (512) 463-0684, { Yoder}Vicki Truitt, (512) 463-0690Speaker Tom Craddick (512) 463-3000Messages can include:*Do not cut the family planning program at the Texas Department of Health! This program provides direct health care services to low-income women. *The proposed cut of $17.68 million is 30% of the Title XX/TANF family planning program.*The proposed cut will result in 59,000 low-income women losing care, including screening for breast and cervical cancer, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, hypertension, anemia, etc.*These 59,000 will be left at risk of pregnancy and undiagnosed/untreated diseases and infections.*If these cuts are made, Texas can expect to see a large increase in the number of Medicaid paid births and newborn care within a year, at an average cost of $7,000+ each.Background:CATASTOPHIC CUTS TO FAMILY PLANNING FUNDINGThe House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services is cutting Title XX/TANF family planning funding by 30%‹$17.68 million for the biennium, or $8.84 million each year. This cut will result in 59,000 low-income women being cut from services.The budget deficit has pit direct care human services providers and advocates against each other. The $17.68 is being transferred from family planning to the "home care" program to replace the general revenue (GR) that was taken from that program and moved to nursing homes.The appropriations subcommittee continues to talk about TDH programs such as family planning as being preventive services, not direct services like those at Texas Department of Human Services. However, family planning is direct services money, the only health care provided low-income and uninsured women in Texas.********************Lesley RamseyProject DirectorTexas Campaign for Women's Health905-A W. OltorfAustin, Texas 78704(512) 448-4857(512) 448-3373 fax