Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, Inc. (LARCC)
Sara Parker-McKernan, (860) 278-5688 ~ sparkermckernan@larcc.org


AAC The Repeal of the Medicaid Changes

Please take a moment to forward this message to your email networks, call your key contacts or mail this information out to your members!!! We CAN all help to repeal policies that severely limit access to Medicaid for CT's low income residents!

A letter to all legislators went out on Friday, Dec. 5. This letter asked them to co-sponsor a bill that repeals the drastic changes to CT's Medicaid Program that were made in the 2003 special legislative sessions (see more specifics below and attached).

Legislators MUST hear from their constituents that this bill is a high priority!!

Call your State Representative and State Senator and tell them:

Sign on to An Act Concerning the Repeal of the Medicaid Changes.

To co-sponsor this legislation that keeps our kids, the elderly, and our families healthy they can call Senator Harp at 240-0393.

Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420 Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421

House Democrats: 1-800-842-8267 House Republicans: 1-800-842-8270

Rebuilding A Healthy Connecticut

This summer the General Assembly and Governor weakened the foundation of health care delivery for people with disabilities, very low-income children and their families, and the frail elderly. Among other things, co-payments for prescription drugs and Dr.'s visits were either increased or newly imposed for all of these individuals and new premiums were imposed on families with incomes from 50 - 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Benefits were reduced and costs increased for those who most need the support from these programs.

Consider the impact of these changes through these scenarios:

A parent with two children earning $7,600 (50% of the FPL) a year will be required to pay a $25.00 a month premium to insure herself and her children. Additionally, every Doctor’s visit will have a $2.00 co-pay and $1.50 co-pay for prescriptions. The parent falls behind on the premium payments (because of the need to pay for food and rent) and then subsequently loses their health care coverage.

An 85 year old grandmother on a fixed income is on six different medications. Because she is unable to pay the $1.50 co-pay that she owes for each of her medications this month, she is denied the ability to re-fill her lifesaving medications.

A 36 year old disabled man with multiple sclerosis, who lives independently on a fixed income will now have increased co- pays for prescriptions and medical visits and may not be able to afford the regular preventive check-ups that ensure he doesn't face further medical complications.

And now the cracks begin……..resulting in……

    • Overcrowded Emergency rooms
    • Children absent from School
    • More severe medical conditions due to lack of primary care treatment
    • Individuals with chronic conditions being treated in emergency rooms
    • People living independently needing to move into nursing homes
    • Skyrocketing costs for healthcare from the state budget

How can you/we prevent the roof from falling in and collapsing our fragile health care system for low-income children, adults and the elderly?

Call your State Senator and Representative and tell them: "Rebuild a healthy Connecticut. Restore Medical Benefits/Medicaid. Sign on to the legislation that keeps our kids, the elderly, and our families healthy!"

Please Support AAC The Repeal of the Medicaid Changes

This bill repeals the changes to Medicaid made in the June 2003 and September 2003 special sessions.

  • The $1.50 co-pay on prescription drugs and $2 co-pay on medical services which were implemented on 11/1/03, the authorization to file for a waiver to increase the co-pays on medical services to $3 for HUSKY A adults and low-income elderly and disabled individuals on fee-for-service Medicaid, and the authorization to file a waiver to impose those co-pays on children and pregnant women.
  • The authorization to file a waiver to impose a premium on all HUSKY A families (including children and pregnant women) above 50% of the federal poverty level. ($7,630 per year, $636 per month, for a family of three)
  • The authorization to file a waiver to change the benefit package for HUSKY A families (including children and pregnant women) to the state employee benefit package which eliminates the guarantee of all medically necessary care for children (EPSDT).
  • The authorization to file a waiver or plan amendment to deny prescriptions to all Husky A adults, children and low income elderly and disabled individuals on fee-for-service Medicaid for failure to pay co-pays.
  • The imposition of premiums on 25,000 to 30,000 low-income elderly and disabled individuals.
  • The change in the benefit package for HUSKY B children to the largest commercial plan with cost sharing up to 5% of the monthly gross income of the family.
  • Enrollment can be expected to decline by a total of 86,744 adults and children or 30% of all HUSKY A enrollees. Of those who could lose coverage, approximately 69% would be children. The remaining 27,106 are parents or pregnant women.

For more information contact Gretchen Vivier at 860 947-2200 x304 or gvivier@ccag.net

Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, Inc. (LARCC)



 

 

 

 

close window