Faces of Medicaid
Americans with Disabilities & their Families Meet with White House Officials and Members of Congress on Capitol Hill
Negotiations over deficit reduction and the debt ceiling have significant implications that could have a profoundly negative impact on Americans with disabilities and their families. Proposed cuts to Medicaid threaten to eliminate vital services. Americans with disabilities and their family members met with officials in the White House and on Capitol Hill to share their stories and fight to preserve Medicaid.
Check back for features to see how Medicaid makes a difference in the lives of Americans.
Statement from UCP President & CEO, Stephen Bennett, in response to President Obama’s statement: July 15, 2011
We applaud the President for calling for solutions that preserve vital lifelines for people with disabilities and their families, who want to continue to contribute to the nation's health and economic recovery. Gutting Medicaid is not the answer to our economic woes, and we thank all those on both sides of the aisle working to defend the most vulnerable in our country.
President Obama’s statement during today's press conference about debt and deficit reduction talks:
- Video on C-SPAN: 26:36, http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/ObamaonB:
- “So my general view is that if the American people looked at this, they’d say, boy, some of these decisions are tough, but they don’t require us to gut Medicare or Social Security. They don’t require us to stop helping young people go to college. They don’t require us to stop helping families who've got a disabled child…”
- Official transcript from The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/15/press-conference-president
Full Statement from UCP President & CEO, Stephen Bennett on meetings at White House: July 12, 2011
Today’s meeting with the White House demonstrates the President’s desire to understand from real Americans what is at stake in the debt reduction talks. We are grateful for the opportunity to share three stories of people who contribute to our nation’s economic viability thanks to the support provided by Medicaid.
People with disabilities join all Americans in recognizing the need to tackle our national debt. We shared alternative ways to reform Medicaid without gutting the vital supports that create real opportunities for people with disabilities.
You wouldn’t try to make a car more fuel-efficient by reducing the amount of gasoline in the tank. Slashing Medicaid eliminates the ability for people with disabilities to go to work, stay with their families and contribute to the economic recovery.
We believe there are sensible ways to provide Medicaid with a tune-up that also achieves precisely what both parties want: a stronger economy and a reduced deficit while strengthening the hand of Americans with disabilities to be contributing members of society.
Tackling our nation’s budget woes cannot be combined with an attack on people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. Medicaid is a fundamental lynchpin for people with disabilities to live and work independently in communities across our nation. To drastically reduce this vital support is short-sighted and wrong. We welcome the chance to be a part of the solution.
Press release, July 12, 2011: http://www.ucp.org/media/press/2011/07/12/americans-with-disabilities-and-their-family-members-met-with-white-house-officials
UCP & AAPD want to provide a face to Medicaid. How has Medicaid impacted your life?
Share your story and photo with us for potential highlight on our websites, social media properties and publications.
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The Case for Inclusion
UCP's annual The Case for Inclusion report ranks the 50 States & DC on Medicaid services for individuals with disabilities. The 6th annual report finds progress in Medicaid services, but that nearly 33,000 Americans with ID/DD still live in 162 large, state-run institutions. Read the 2011 report for full information.
