Letter in Support of Smith-Bingaman Amendment to Senate FY 2006 Budget Resolution to Strike All Medicaid Cuts

Dear Senators Smith and Bingaman,

We, the undersigned organizations, strongly endorse the Smith-Bingaman amendment to the Senate fiscal year 2006 Budget Resolution, which would strike all Medicaid cuts. The elimination of such cuts is essential for the health care of Medicaid enrollees, the providers who serve them, and state and local units of governments.

We understand that the Senators’ amendment will include the creation of a bipartisan commission in lieu of all cuts to consider the future efficient and effective operation of the Medicaid program. Medicaid is the essential source of health access for 53 million of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, and any changes to the program should be driven by policy and not by arbitrary cuts.

Sincerely,

AFL-CIO
AIDS Action
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families Alliance for Children and Families
Alliance for Retired Americans
Alzheimer's Association
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of HIV Medicine
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging American Association of People with Disabilities American Association on Mental Retardation American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American Congress of Community Supports and Employment Services (ACCSES) American Counseling Association
American Dental Association
American Dental Education Association
American Dental Hygienists' Association American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees American Federation of Teachers
American Group Psychotherapy Association American Medical Student Association
American Network of Community Options and Resources American Nurses Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Public Health Association
American Society of Transplant Surgeons Association for Community Affiliated Plans Association of Academic Physiatrists
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations Association of Jewish Aging Services of North America Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs Association of University Centers on Disabilities Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Health Association of the United States Center for Law and Social Policy
Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
CHAMP (Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project) Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy
Children’s Dental Health Project
Coalition on Human Needs
Council for Health and Human Service Ministries, United Church of Christ Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals Disability Service Providers of America (DSPA) Easter Seals
Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action Epilepsy Foundation
Families USA
Family Voices
Gay Men’s Health Crisis
Generations United
HIV Medicine Association
Housing Works Inc.
Human Rights Campaign
Institute for Reproductive Health Access International Association of Jewish Vocational Services Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Kids Project
Lutheran Services in America
March of Dimes
Medicaid Health Plans of America
Medicare Rights Center
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health National Association for Home Care & Hospice National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics National Association of Community Health Centers National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors National Association of Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA-US) National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems National Association of School Psychologists National Association of Social Workers
National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare National Council of La Raza
National Council on Independent Living
National Council on the Aging
National Education Association
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association National Head Start Association
National Health Council
National Health Law Program
National Immigration Law Center
National Indian Health Board
National Mental Health Association
National Partnership for Women & Families National Puerto Rican Coalition
National Respite Coalition
National Senior Citizens Law Center
National Women’s Law Center
Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union (PACE) Pediatrix Medical Group
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office Project Inform
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition (REHDC) Renal Leadership Council
RESULTS
Service Employees International Union
The AIDS Institute
The Alan Guttmacher Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Children's Partnership
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States Tourette Syndrome Association
U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations United Auto Workers (UAW), International Union United Cerebral Palsy
United Jewish Communities
United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association United Steelworkers of America
US Conference of Mayors
USAction
Voice for Adoption
Voice of the Retarded
Voices for America's Children
Volunteers of America
Welfare Law Center