CALL TO ACTION: Letter writing time - Medicaid applicants grow as recession widens

[Fi.]

http://charter.net/news/read.php?ps=...ARSDCCLM_UNEWS

Governors have lobbied President-elect Barack Obama and Congress to help them weather the downturn by increasing the federal government's share of Medicaid spending for at least two years.

The governors said the extra $40 billion would ease the service cuts or tax increases that legislatures need to balance state budgets.

You know what to do. Get on the phone, get your evidence together, mail it in, schedule meetings, go to town hall, WHATEVER you have to. While I hate to say take advantage of the recession, by all means. Do it. Point out that it's a HUGE unnecessary expense, that even lots of NON-government insurance doesn't pay for it (therefore pointing out that it's not a class divide), and make sure you have heaps of non-biased evidence.

I am not in the US right now or I would be out there right alongside of you - but I see this as a *great* opportunity for those of you who are stateside.

[onelilguysmommy]

wait..what? did i miss something here thats saying theyre wanting extra funding for circing or something?

im just seeing needing extra money because of the extra families signing up...did i miss something?

[Ruthla]

I think the suggestion here is:

If you're going to increase Medicaid spending to reach more people, here's a great way to get those Medicaid dollars to go further.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

I think the suggestion here is:

If you're going to increase Medicaid spending to reach more people, here's a great way to get those Medicaid dollars to go further.

excellent idea, I have heard that some states don't cover circs. I think Ohio does.

[onelilguysmommy]

oooh, okie dokie. that makes sense.

i know of quite a few that dont cover it......okay, i looked, its 16 without doing a ton of searching..
i thought it was more like 25. :sigh: definitely this would be a good thing to mention though with the "lower chance of hiv and hpv" studies, im sure a lot of them will think thats one vital part that needs to stay

[Fellow Traveler]

That is exactly what is meant, most states still cover it. The following states don't: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

If you live in one of the other 34 and would like to help get your state to drop it, there is a campaign beginning next year. Contact user TCA2008 for details.

[TCA2008]

Yes, please pm me with your contact info and I will send you a whole packet of articles, letters, etc...that will be helpful to you. There is no reason why state governments should waste tax payer dollars funding unnecessary circumcisions when there are so many important needs to be met.

[Fi.]

If you're going to increase Medicaid spending to reach more people, here's a great way to get those Medicaid dollars to go further.

Exactly. If Medicaid is so desperate for money, instead of dropping coverage on medically necessary hemophelia drugs (like in PA, where they still call circ medically necessary on top of it) or tightening the qualifying guidelines - why not end medically unnecessary coverage on a cosmetic surgery?