Congressman Davis Urges Senators Shelby, Sessions to Oppose Alabama Medicaid Cuts
CONGRESSMAN DAVIS URGES SENATORS SHELBY, SESSIONS TO OPPOSE ALABAMA MEDICAID CUTS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Artur Davis (D) today sent correspondence to Alabama Senators Richard Shelby (R) and Jeff Sessions (R) urging them to support provisions that would save Alabama's Medicaid program nearly $35 million in 2006.
The letter comes at a time when both chambers are considering language to include in the final budget reconciliation bill set for a vote before Christmas recess. Earlier this year, Davis introduced legislation that would delay scheduled cuts to Alabama's embattled Medicaid program by one year. In the letter Davis asks Alabama's two senators to consider the consequences of these cuts on Medicaid recipients.
"As you know, Alabama is projected to face a 100 million dollar shortfall in revenues for Medicaid in the coming budget cycle. Because of limited resources, Alabama already provides one of the thinnest levels of Medicaid coverage in the nation," Davis said.
In November, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced an amendment to the budget reconciliation bill, which included provisions that received wide bi-partisan support in states where Medicaid cuts were scheduled.
The letter goes on, "Given Alabama's precarious Medicaid situation, I am urging you to reconsider your opposition to an amendment successfully offered by Senator Bingaman during the Senate budget reconciliation vote in November, and to urge the conferees to insist on inclusion of the amendment's provisions in the conference report."
The provisions are similar to language Davis introduced in legislation in the House this year as a companion bill to that offered by Senator Bingaman. Davis's bill would suspend scheduled cuts to Medicaid programs in 33 states, including Alabama. Due to an outdated formula calculating the matching rates for the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid, Alabama is scheduled for a 1.32 percent decrease totaling $34.2 million in 2006 unless these cuts are rolled back.
Davis concludes, "I sincerely hope that based on our state's pressing Medicaid needs--which are most critical in my congressional districtthat you will join the bipartisan effort to stave off unwarranted cuts to Alabama's Medicaid program."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/al07_davis/medicaidshelses120905.html