CONGRESS VOTES TO CUT CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE
Fees and cuts in Medicaid services to come

Washington, DC---With the U.S. House of Representatives passing the budget reconciliation bill today (216-214), federal Medicaid law will change and allow states to offer scaled-back benefit packages for children. It will also let states charge children in poor families premiums for Medicaid coverage, and fees for prescription drugs and some medical services.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), representing the nation’s pediatricians who provide a majority of all office visits to children on Medicaid, had urged congressional members to vote no.

“This is a devastating blow delivered right to children,” said AAP President Eileen M. Ouellette, MD, JD. “There were other ways Congress could have saved money, without harming poor children. I am outraged knowing that a majority of our congressional members believe sacrificing children’s health care is acceptable.”

According to the Congressional Budget Office, 60 percent of those losing Medicaid coverage due to new premium charges will be children. About one-third of those affected by higher cost-sharing for prescription drugs -- 13 million by 2010 and 20 million by 2015 -- will be children.

“For 40 years, Medicaid has been the health care safety net for poor children, but with this policy, it can quickly unravel, and children will suffer,” Dr. Ouellette said. “Pediatricians will now have to persuade each state government not to adopt these harmful Medicaid options for children.”

The one bit of good child health news in the bill is also affected by the benefit changes. The Family Opportunity Act, endorsed by the Academy and included in the reconciliation bill, gives states the option of allowing higher income families with severely disabled children to buy-in to the Medicaid program for health coverage. Unfortunately, the services might not be as comprehensive as needed or easily accessible.

“Pediatricians spent a year explaining to Congress how Medicaid cuts could harm millions of children, but it’s clear that other special interests lobbying Congress prevailed,” Dr. Ouellette said. “Children may not vote, but the pediatricians who care for them do. We know how Congress voted, and in this election year, we’ll vote for those who protect, not sacrifice, children’s health care.”

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.