Medicaid Advocacy Needed

Below is an advocacy alert from Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). Please take a moment to a make a difference.

If your child receives Medicaid (from Peachcare, Katie Beckett/Deeming Waiver, NOW/COMP, etc)... YOU will be impacted by the possible changes. Our US Senators and Representatives need you hear from you TODAY.

Sincerely,

 "United - We Will Make A Difference"

  Heidi J. Moore

(Proud Mother to Jacob - 11 yrs old with Down syndrome & Leukemia and Jared - 9 yrs old with amazing spirit & love for his brother)

From GCDD:

Protect the Services You or a Loved One Rely On to Survive! Take Action Now!

Right now, Congress is developing strategies to cut spending and bring down the federal deficit. As advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may bear the brunt of many of the proposed funding cuts and policy changes, our voices must be heard in these debates.

If we don't speak up now, cuts to Medicaid and other programs critical to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities may take the brunt of the cuts.

What Will Happen to People with Disabilities if Medicaid is Drastically Cut?

Fewer people will get care and people will get less care. For example, they could be denied:

Prescription drugs, medical treatments, and therapies they need to be healthy

 Wheelchairs and prosthetic devices they need to be mobile

Home and community based services to live in the community instead of institutions

These losses could result in increased:

-Illness, injury, and death

-Increased stress of families unable to meet family member's needs

-Increased institutionalization or out-of-home services

-Uncompensated care for costly emergency rooms

-Shifted demands on other systems of care (e.g., Veterans Administration)

Call your Two Senators and Representative Wednesday July 13th!

Here is a phone script that you may use.

"Hi my name is ___________, and I'm from _______________. I want my Senator/Representative to know that the budget cannot be balanced on the backs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Deep cuts in Medicaid cannot be tolerated."

Then share your story! There is nothing more powerful than sharing your personal experience.

To find contact information for Georgia Senators and your Representative

 Senators: http://t.co/kUDJND1

To identify your Congressman/woman, go to http://www.house.gov/ and enter your zip code.

Some districts require a 9 digit zip code, which you can find at http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp

Please share this information with family and friends, and reply to this email to let us know you called your Georgia Senators and your Representative's office!

For more information about how Heidi can help you maximize your child's potential and to see previous newsletters and disability information, please go to www.heidijmoore.com. 
Join Heidi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UniteOurVoices .   
To follow Jacob's Journey with Leukemia, please go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/prayforjacobmoore.  To watch Jacob's Journey with Cancer video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GjPfmIZ76g  
 "Help The Children Now, So They Can Help Themselves Later!"

Sent by Heidi Moore