Are you aware that service such as the day programs, residential programs, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, early intervention, and home and community based waiver services for Arkansans with Developmental Disabilities are in danger of being cut in the federal budget fight? Congress is considering large cuts to Medicaid which funds these services.
70,277 full-time jobs in Arkansas are attributable to the Medicaid program, which is equal to 6% of all employment in the state.
Medicaid provides health insurance to 26 percent of Arkansans (750,000 people) with an annual budget of $3.14 billion.
Medicaid is a vital safety net for 120,200 children and adults with disabilities, such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual disabilities, and autism.
Medicaid is an important economic driver in Arkansas – approximately $5.9 billion is generated as a result of direct Medicaid (state and federal) spending of $3.7 billion in Arkansas.
Every federal Medicaid dollar that flows into a state stimulates business activity and generates jobs. In Arkansas, every federal dollar spent on Medicaid has an economic impact of $6.31.
So, the loss of the “economic multiplier effect” that states would experience as a direct result of federal Medicaid cuts would be large and much greater than the amount of the dollar cuts themselves.
For every 5% (12% is being proposed) that is cut from the Medicaid budget, it means about $242 million in lost economic activity for Arkansas and a loss of 2,400 jobs.
Please send an email or make a call to the President (White House), our Senators, and our Congressmen. At this minute, negotiations in Washington are threatening 46 years of success and positive change in the lives of Individuals with Disabilities – and their families! We have provided the contact information below for you convenience. Tell your elected officials to lobby The White House and Congress for protection for our intellectually disabled! Community Services for these individuals are the least expensive systems and morally the right thing to do.
Ask for their help in supporting the most vulnerable members in our society. Explain that community funded Medicaid stops costly institutionalization, puts consumers with disabilities and their families into jobs, and protects community in each town in America.
We are counting on each of you. Send a link to this page to your friends and family. Put it on your Face Book page. Washington MUST hear your voice!!!
Sincerely,
Pam Bland, Executive Director
First Step, Inc.
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CONTACT THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
www.whitehouse.gov/contact
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U.S. Senator John Boozman
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4843
boozman.senate.gov
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U.S. Senator Mark Pryor
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2353
pryor.senate.gov
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U.S. Representative Rick Crawford – 1st District, North Central & Northeast Arkansas
1408 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4076 Fax: (202) 225-5602
crawford.house.gov
(Counties: Baxter, Fulton, Sharp, Randolph, Clay, Izard, Lawrence, Greene, Searcy, Stone, Francis, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Arkansas, Prairie, Crittenden, and Lonoke)
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U.S. Representative Tim Griffin – 2nd District, Central Arkanas
1232 Longworh HOB
Washington DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2506 Fax: (202) 225-5903
griffin.house.gov
(Counties: Conway, Faulkner, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren, White, and Yell)
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U.S. Representative Steve Womack – 3rd District, NW Arkansas
1508 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4301 Fax: (202) 225-5713
womack.house.gov
(Counties: Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Madison, Marion, Pope, Sebastian, Washington, and Newton)
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U.S. Representative Tom Cotton – 4th District, South Arkansas
415 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3772
cotton.house.gov
(Counties: Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Chicot, Columbia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Garland, Grant, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Miller, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Polk, Scott, Sevier, Union)
