As people who believe that communities are stronger when children and families have access to affordable health care, we are profoundly disappointed that the health needs of children and the families that care for them appear to have been forgotten as Congress moves policies designed to radically restructure Medicaid and strip health coverage from millions.
New York’s Medicaid program provides important health coverage for more than two million children – nearly one million under the age of six. Medicaid covers 84% of children living in poverty and 100% of children in foster care. It helps to make sure that our children can get mental, dental and physical health treatment and other vitally important and life-saving care. It promotes healthy development that brings lifelong benefits – to individuals, families and communities. It helps to assure that families do not go bankrupt trying to care for medically fragile children and that children with disabilities can be cared for at home rather than institutionalized.
Medicaid has a great impact for children in both rural and urban New York State. Forty-two percent of rural New York children are covered by Medicaid, with rates higher in certain counties – 50% in Fulton County; 49% in Sullivan County; and 43% in Greene County. Yet many children remain uninsured – 34% in Yates County; 11% in Seneca County; and 11% in Franklin County.
At a time when New York is so close to universal coverage for children – nearly 98% of New York’s children are covered – our elected leaders should be working to close the gap, not moving us back to a time when parents could not afford insurance or basic health care for their children.
The fight is not over. We will continue to press for sound health policies that enhance the lives of children and we thank you for your continued efforts to inform your colleagues and friends and our policymakers about how Medicaid and affordable health coverage benefit the health and well-being of the youngest New Yorkers and the communities that care for them.
Congratulations to all of us on defeating the damaging health bill in the Senate. We defeated this bill because people from across the nation came together and in one voice said “no!” to Medicaid cuts that would hurt children, families, people with disabilities, and seniors. We fended off devastating cuts to Medicaid because consumers, advocates, hospitals, clinics, physicians and long-term care providers worked together. We defeated this bill because schools, child welfare agencies, rural health networks, immigrant rights groups and so many more constituencies stood together. We defeated this bill because, collectively, as a state, we fought hard against this bill which would have severely weakened our health system – one that covers 98% of our children – one we have built together.
But, we can’t let down our guard. Threats persist, although they make take different forms. The budget that the President has proposed contains per capita caps for Medicaid as well as cuts to the Child Health Insurance Program. Stay vigilant. Stay prepared.
We will continue to work with our partners here in New York and beyond to provide you with current information as this fluid situation changes. We are also focused on ensuring that Congress renews funding for Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) before the end of September.
We wanted to take a moment to thank you for your energy and dedication in protecting the health of New York’s children. Celebrate today – but get back to work tomorrow. New York kids are depending on us.
The Senate’s delay of the vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) is a victory. But it is a delay, not the end of the fight. Congress returns to Washington the week of July 10, and could take up this legislation then. Let’s use this delay to keep up the pressure on U.S. Senators and Members of Congress to ensure they do not pass the BCRA or any damaging health care bills. This delay is also an opportunity to get out the word: the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and BRCA would not only repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they would gut Medicaid.
Like many of you, I’ve been carefully tracking proposals unfolding in Washington as Congress attempts to restructure our nation’s health system without hearings, committee meetings or debate. In fact, on Monday the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report showing that 22 million people lose health care coverage and millions of others will pay more for care and get less coverage under the BCRA.
I spend a lot of time immersed in this topic, so a poll done last week by the Kaiser Family Foundation brought me up short – only 38% of those polled – 4 in 10 – understood that the AHCA passed by the House of Representatives would drastically cut Medicaid. Medicaid is the health insurance program that provides essential coverage for low-income children and families and many of our nation’s people with disabilities and seniors. The AHCA and BCRA both claim to repeal and replace the ACA. So, what has gutting Medicaid have to do with repeal and replace? Not much. These bills cut Medicaid to generate tax cuts for corporations and higher income individuals.
Both the AHCA and BCRA would radically restructure Medicaid financing, with dire consequences for New York. Under a per capita cap, funding would be based on a pre-determined amount per enrollee, locking New York into past spending levels and reduce federal payments over time. Any formula also puts future funding at risk as it can be used as a screw to reduce costs anytime Congress seeks funding for tax cuts or other programs. (For more information on how per capita caps work and the impact on children and families, please see our fact sheet.) This mechanism would remove billions of dollars from New York’s Medicaid program. Billions. No matter how dedicated our State is to covering families and improving services drastic cuts will have to be made.
But the terrible nature of these bills does not stop there – the radical restructuring of Medicaid puts children with special health care needs in jeopardy, threatens EPSDT and services for children in foster care, would gut critical children’s health services in schools, pull health insurance from many low-income parents and harm families in rural areas. And that list doesn’t cover the aspects of Medicaid that would result in cuts to services and coverage for adults (even those requiring mental health and substance abuse services), persons with disabilities, and the elderly.
I realize you have been asked before to take action on these bills and we thank you for your efforts. We are asking you again because stopping these bills must be everyone’s priority this week. All the indications we have from our partners is that we are facing a dire future in children’s health and welfare if the Medicaid program is gutted. Also keep in mind that other programs in the State budget may be in jeopardy if drastic cuts to Medicaid requires resources to be diverted to maintain essential services.
If you have not already reached out to others in your community caring for children and families, please do so today. Contact your hospital, your community health center, and your local pediatric office. Reach out to your schools, your day care centers, your local health department. Seek out those working with other populations – find out who is involved in services for persons with disabilities, nursing homes and home care agencies. Contact your local media and editorial board. Explain to everyone how these Medicaid cuts will impact your local community.
We need to work together to carry this message to New York’s Congressional Delegation: Medicaid is essential to the health and well-being of New York’s children.Gutting Medicaid, as proposed by these bills, will harm children.
We will keep you posted on other actions you can take as events unfold in Washington. But don’t wait. Reach out locally andact now!
Even as advocates and policymakers dive into the details of the President’s first budget, this much is clear: this proposal is devastating for children, families and communities.
The President’s budget makes additional cuts to Medicaid above the deep reductions present in the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House and being discussed in the Senate. How much would Medicaid be cut between these two plans? $1 trillion over 10 years. On top of that, the President has proposed cuts to the Child Health Insurance Program (CHIP) of 23%. These are massive cuts to programs that provide health insurance coverage to 41% of New York’s children.
Why is this so very important? Well, with the help of Medicaid and Child Health Plus (CHP), New York has achieved near universal health coverage for children—a remarkable 97.5% of children have coverage. Let that sink in—nearly all of New York’s children have coverage. New York has led the way in coverage for children, recognizing what a smart and compassionate investment it is. We should be justifiably proud of our collective efforts—extending over decades—toward ensuring that all children in the Empire State have health insurance. Now that legacy is threatened. There also is significant concern about the impact of significant Medicaid reductions on the stability of our health care safety net, including community health centers, hospitals, and pediatricians.
The President’s budget uses the CHIP block grant and the per capita cap passed in the AHCA to extract savings (above and beyond the House-passed AHCA bill) from these programs. This confirms the suspicions of advocates that federal officials would use these redesigned funding mechanisms as screws to be tightened at any time—including in the middle of a recession or some other time when people are most in need. This would leave states to pull from other essential state programs, cut the number of enrollees, cut benefits, cut provider payments, and/or raise state taxes. Our website has more information on per capita caps and the importance of Medicaid and CHP for children.
And it is not only the threats to health care that will impact children and families. The President’s budget slashes SNAP, TANF, and a whole host of safety net programs. We will endeavor to keep you updated on the events in Washington as we digest emerging information and consult with our state and national partners. Keep watching us for information and action steps over the coming weeks.
Finally, as the budget process shifts to Congress, we pose this question: Which members of Congress are going to come back to their districts and proudly share that they voted to take health care and food away from children?
New York State made history on April 10th when the Governor signed into law hard-won legislation that raises the age of juvenile jurisdiction to 18. Prior to the passage of this law, New York was one of only two states across the nation that continued to automatically treat 16- and 17-year-olds as adults in the justice system. With the stroke of a pen—after years of hard work by a broad and determined coalition of families, faith leaders, advocates (including Schuyler Center) and lawmakers—New York State moved from the shameful position of last in the nation in prosecuting teenagers as adults, to a state with one of the strongest, most innovative systems for handling teenage offenders. This is a tremendous accomplishment.
This new legislation is a game changer for the nearly 28,000 16- and 17-year-old New York teenagers arrested each year, the vast majority for minor crimes (72% are misdemeanors).[1] Furthermore, this is an issue that disproportionately affects youth of color—over 70% of 16- and 17-year-olds arrested are black and Latino, and 80% of those sentenced to incarceration are black and Latino.[2] At long last, New York law reflects what brain science has told us for years—that teenagers do not have the same capacity to control their impulses or make decisions as adults, in the criminal justice system, and that young offenders should receive treatment and services appropriate to their development if we are serious about preventing recidivism, and moving them on a path toward self-sufficiency and success.
The mechanics of the law are complex and will be implemented in stages. The age of juvenile jurisdiction will be raised to 17 by October 2018 and to 18 by October 2019. Juvenile misdemeanors will be moved to Family Court, felonies will be handled in a newly created Youth Part of the criminal court, with the presumption that non-violent felonies will be moved down to Family Court, unless the district attorney files a motion within 30 days showing “extraordinary circumstances” that the case should remain in the Youth Part. In some cases, as determined by a three-part test, violent felonies that do not involve a deadly weapon, sexual offense or significant physical injury, will also be transferred to Family Court. Family Court judges will also preside over the Youth Part of the criminal court. The law also requires parental notification of youth arrests and the sealing of youth criminal records after a period of ten years.
Unfortunately, New York’s 2017-2018 budget fails to advance the needs of children and families in many other areas. The budget slashes funding for foster care funding by $62 million—or by nearly 14%. These cuts cannot be rationally justified. Thousands of children continue to need foster care services, and increased instances of substance use among parents threaten to drive up the number of children who come into contact with the foster care system. And, New York continues to score poorly on federal assessments of our foster care outcomes, including the time it takes NY children and youth to be placed in permanent safe homes, and the State’s record of keeping children entrusted in its care safe from harm.
The budget further imperils children and families by cutting funding for child care subsidies. For the 43% of New York families whose incomes are low enough to qualify for a subsidy (<200% of the FPL or $40,320 for a family of three), a subsidy can mean the difference between economic stability, and financial crisis. Without a subsidy, low-income working parents are faced with unbearable choices, like choosing between leaving their children with unreliable caregivers or cutting their work hours, leading to deeper poverty or even homelessness. In addition, quality, reliable child care is a highly effective intervention for families at risk of child welfare involvement. Yet, at present, only 17% of eligible NY families receive subsidies and the new budget’s $7 million reduction will strip approximately 925 children of their subsidy.
New York has positioned itself as a leader on social issues, and a voice for the voiceless—a state that cares for the health and well-being of all its citizens. We passed Paid Family Leave and marriage equality and have invested in Pre-K. And this year we ensured that more youth will be treated fairly in the justice system by raising the age. We urge New York State to build upon these successes, and devote real attention and resources to improving services, systems and policies that strengthen families, and enable all our children to thrive.
Congress is expected to vote THURSDAY on the American Health Care Act (AHCA)—the 7th birthday of the Affordable Care Act.
The AHCA will cap the amount the federal government will pay New York for delivering Medicaid services.
Yes, you read that right—the ACHA contains provisions that would end the federal government’s commitment to a federal share of Medicaid that covers the actual cost of providing services for eligible people. Congress is moving quickly, with no hearings and no debates. It’s hard to imagine a more fundamental or disruptive change to this pillar of our nation‘s health care system, a program that has been a lifeline for children, families disabled people, seniors, and communities for over 50 years.
Medicaid and the Child Health Plus program form the foundation of children’s health coverage in New York. In fact, New York is experiencing a historic low in uninsured kids—almost 98% of children have health insurance. We cannot afford to let this remarkable accomplishment be undermined by a radical restructuring of the Medicaid program.
After the House of Representatives the bill is expected to go to the U.S. Senate next week.
Please take action. Send a letter to your member of Congress and sign on to our organizational letter to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
Thank you for your continued commitment to children and families.
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