Letter
Letter to U.S. House of Representatives Regarding Medicaid Portions of Budget Reconciliation Measure, October 26, 2005
October 26, 2005
House Energy and Commerce Committee Members
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
As the Committee prepares for its October 27, 2005 mark-up of the Medicaid portions of the budget reconciliation measure, we write to reiterate our concerns about increasing the cost-sharing burdens upon those who rely on Medicaid for their health care and granting states latitude to choose which medical services it will offer to low-income people.
We continue to urge, as we wrote in our July 27, 2005 letter to the Committee (a copy of which is enclosed), that no sick person should be denied health care because he or she cannot afford Medicaid co-pays or premiums. We also believe it is important to maintain a federal standard of core benefits needed to maintain good health for all Medicaid beneficiaries.
All proposals to amend or reform Medicaid should be consistent with a commitment to ensure health care for the poor and vulnerable. We urge you to reject any change that could result in anyone who relies on Medicaid for health care to lose coverage or access to vital services.
Sincerely yours,
Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D
Bishop of Brooklyn
Chairman, Domestic Policy Committee
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Rev. Larry Snyder
President
Catholic Charities USA
Sr. Carol Keehan, DC
President and CEO
Catholic Health Association of the United States