Tell Florida Legislators:  WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE MEDICAID CUTS

The 2009 Legislative is almost over, and the House and Senate have passed their budgets.  And both include what would be the 4th round of cuts to Medicaid in the past 18 months.

Send a letter to key House and Senate members NOW!

The Senate has already passed a $1 per pack increase in the Cigarette User Fee and would dedicate the nearly $1 billion in new revenue to Medicaid. Both House and Senate have agreed to draw down almost $2 billion in federal Medicaid stimulus funding in 2009-10 as well.

The next step is the critical "conference" process, in which the two chambers work out their differences – after leaders work to get on the same page about new revenue sources and what types of cuts to make.

Send a letter to key House and Senate members NOW! Tell them we simply can't afford to make any further cuts to nursing homes, hospitals, health departments or mental health/substance abuse treatment. Remind the House that increasing the Cigarette User Fee is an important way to both protect Medicaid now and save lives in the future.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As the House and Senate budgets head into conference, I am writing to urge you to avoid any further cuts to Florida's fragile Medicaid program. Florida and its most vulnerable citizens simply cannot afford what would be a 4th round of Medicaid cuts in 18 months.

These cuts are not necessary if the Legislature increases the Cigarette User Fee (CUF) and then permanently dedicates some of the new revenue for health care. I thank the Senate for wisely recognizing this by passing the $1 per pack increase in the Cigarette User Fee; this bill would dedicate the nearly $1 billion in new revenue it would raise next year to the Medicaid program.

I urge the House to remember as well that increasing the Cigarette User Fee is a powerful way to both protect Medicaid now and save lives in the future.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 22, 2009