Tag: Medi-Cal

Advocate to Save Medicaid by Telling Your Story!

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget plan on a near party-line vote, with only 1 Republican voting “No”. The budget plan passed by the House includes a $880 billion cut to Medicaid, which funds half of Medi-Cal programs in California. The budget now heads to the U.S. Senate, where amendments are expected. Once the new version of the budget act is voted on, the Senate version of the budget will go back to the House for a vote. Both the Senate and the House must agree on a final version of the budget before it becomes law.

While this may feel like defeat, the battle continues. Our work as advocates is not over! You have all done an incredible job by calling, emailing and tagging your legislators in social media posts.

Click HERE to watch Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of The United States, on CNN respond to the Medicaid cuts in the House budget plan, and address how these draconian cuts would impact the lives of millions of people with disabilities and their families.

“It’s important to remember that having a disability is bipartisan, and is part of the human condition. It doesn’t discriminate by political party, economic status, race, or gender,” Neas reminded viewers during the interview.

While this is true, not a single democratic Representative in California supported the draconian Medicaid cut, and our two democratic California U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff will protect Medicaid as they deliberate in the Senate. However, we have work to do to encourage our U.S. Republican Representatives in California to protect Medicaid in the next version of the budget bill.

YOUR CAN MAKE AN IMPACT!

1) Record a video message urging members of Congress to reject the cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal) by telling them how cuts to your services and supports will impact your life, or the life of someone you care about at MyStory.TheArcCa.org – We will share video messages with legislators.

2) Organize a rally or townhall at your Representative’s office by emailing us at info@thearcca.org

3) Donate to The Arc of California to help power our advocacy efforts this year at SupportTheArc.org

If passed, the proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid would dramatically impact the availability of vital programs for millions of Californians with developmental disabilities. So, what are those programs? Here is a quick snapshot of services and supports that would be threatened:

    • All regional center services for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families (supported living, supported employment, transportation, day programs, respite, early intervention, group homes, and many more).
    • In-Home Supportive Services for people with disabilities and seniors (IHSS).
    • Covered health care for people with disabilities, low-income children, pregnant mothers, and other low-income Californians (Medi-Cal).
    • All long-term care services, including nursing facilities, prescription drugs, and home and community-based services. (HCBS)
    • School services and therapies for children on Medi-Cal, including school psychologists, speech and language therapists, personal care aides, nurses, and more.

This is the time to speak up and speak out! Educating our elected officials about the critical need for Medicaid-funded services can make a big difference.

URGENT CALL ALERT: Tell Your Congressional Representative to Oppose Cuts to Medicaid

On Tuesday, February 25 the U.S. House of Representatives is planning to vote “Yes” or “No” on catastrophic cuts to disability services. Call (866)426-2631 to tell your Congressional Representative to oppose any cuts to Medicaid, which funds Medi-Cal programs!

The vote to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars would dramatically impact the availability of services for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. If Congress and President Trump sign a cut to Medicaid into law then California would lose tens of billions of dollars and would likely be forced into cutting programs funded by Medicaid (California’s Medi-Cal). So, what are those programs? Here is a quick snapshot of services and supports that would be threatened:

  • All regional center services for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families (supported living, supported employment, transportation, day programs, respite, early intervention, group homes, and many more).
  • In-Home Supportive Services for people with disabilities and seniors (IHSS).
  • Covered health care for people with disabilities, low-income children, pregnant mothers, and other low-income Californians (Medi-Cal).
  • All long-term care services, including nursing facilities, prescription drugs, and home and community-based services. (HCBS)
  • School services and therapies for children on Medi-Cal, including school psychologists, speech and language therapists, personal care aides, nurses, and more.

Representative David Valadao, a Republican Member of Congress in the greater Bakersfield region, is being widely praised for raising concerns with the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Additionally, last week the disability community participated in rallies and townhalls in the districts of Representatives Ken Calvert, Jay Obernolte, and Young Kim in hopes that those representatives will also raise their voice to protect their constituents from these harmful cuts. Click HERE to watch media coverage of the rally at the office of Rep. Jay Obernolte. The threat continues, however, that this Tuesday Speaker Mike Johnson will secure the votes he needs in the House to pass the Medicaid cuts.

ACT NOW! Call (866)426-2631 to tell your Member of Congress to oppose any cuts to Medicaid!

ACTION ALERT! Tell Congress Medicaid is a Lifeline for People with Disabilities

In case you missed it, The Arc of the United States hosted an informative webinar last week on “Medicaid Advocacy in 2025”, and is now available to watch! The webinar included the basics about Medicaid and the programs it funds, as well as the growing concern of potential cuts to Medicaid and what you can do NOW to protect it.  Click HERE to watch.

This week, the Congress is discussing a proposed plan to cut Medicaid by $2.3 Trillion. Medicaid funds about 70% of California’s Medi-Cal programs. Medi-Cal is the state’s name for Medicaid. This is a VERY SERIOUS CONCERN! Should these cuts get passed by Congress, 505,000 Californians with developmental disabilities, their families, and those who provide their vital services and supports will be severely impacted.  In Home Support Services (IHSS), Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), the Self-Determination Program (SDP), Early Intervention, employment programs, independent living services, heath care services, and so much more, are all funded by Medicaid.

We need EVERY person in the disability community to CONTACT THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS NOW!  Emailing your members takes two minutes and is only one click away! Click HERE to ACT NOW!

Supports for Californians with Disabilities on Chopping Block as Congress Debates Whether or Not to Cut Medicaid

By Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc & UCP California Collaboration

As individuals, families, and advocates have feared, the Republican controlled congress is debating major cuts to health and social services that could dramatically impact the availability of services for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Speaker Mike Johnson has published a list of possible spending cuts that include $2.3 trillion to Medicaid, with the largest Medicaid cut coming from “Per-Capita Caps”, which means that the federal government would set a cap on the total services and supports any individual could receive throughout their lifetime. For an individual with a lifelong intellectual or developmental disability, this would be catastrophic.

If Congress and President Trump sign a cut to Medicaid into law then California would lose tens of billions of dollars and would likely be forced into cutting programs funded by Medicaid. So, what are those programs? Here is a quick snapshot of services and supports that would be threatened:

  • All regional center services for Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families (supported living, supported employment, transportation, day programs, respite, early intervention, group homes, and many more).
  • In Home Supportive Services for people with disabilities and seniors (IHSS).
  • Covered health care for people with disabilities, low-income children, pregnant mothers, and other low-income Californians (Medi-Cal).
  • All long-term care services, including nursing facilities, prescription drugs, and home and community-based services.
  • School services and therapies for children on Medi-Cal, including school psychologists, speech and language therapists, personal care aides, nurses, and more.

Californians with disabilities and seniors are especially vulnerable to cuts to Medicaid because they account for just under half of all Medicaid expenditures in California.

Advocates have begun meetings with the nine Republican members of the House of Representatives in California to discuss the importance of Medicaid for people with disabilities, and already Representatives David Valadao and Young Kim have carried this message to Republican leadership. We are looking to the remaining seven members (LaMalfa, Obernolte, Kiley, McClintock, Fong, Calvert, and Issa) to similarly lead efforts in D.C. to protect our community. The Arc and UCP California Collaboration will publish training and advocacy opportunities for all Californians in the coming days.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

  1. JOIN AN IMPORTANT WEBINAR: On January 29 at 1:00 p.m. (PST) for advocates nationwide to gain essential tools and resources to effectively advocate to save Medicaid in 2025. Click HERE to register.
  2. SIGN UP FOR OUR ACTION ALERTS! It’s important to stay informed and ready to take action. We will notify you when it’s time to testify at a hearing, contact your legislator, join budget briefing, or sign a petition letter.  Click HERE to Sign Up
  3. DONATE TO THE ARC: Help power our advocacy efforts to protect funding for programs and services for Californians with developmental disabilities, their families and the dedicated professionals who provide daily supports. Click HERE to donate.

Thank you for your advocacy. It’s going to take our entire community to join forces and protect our safety net of services.

Millions of Californians Have Lost Their Medi-Cal Coverage. Take Action to Keep Your Coverage

Take action to keep your coverage! Local Medi-Cal offices review each member’s eligibility once a year or when someone reports changes to their household. Everyone’s renewal date is different.

Millions of people have lost their Medi-Cal coverage since redeterminations resumed earlier this year, seniors and those with disabilities have experienced higher rates of disenrollment. Stay alert and informed!  Keep an eye out for any mail sent to you from your county Medi-Cal office. If you recently moved, make sure to update your address on the Medi-Cal website or by calling your local office.

Here are some resources and articles to learn more about current Medi-Cal updates and redeterminations:

More than 200,000 People with Disabilities Lost Their Medi-Cal Coverage in June

In June 2023, more than 200,000 people lost their Medi-Cal coverage because they did not return the information that was needed to process their new applications. People who did not return their redetermination packet during the month of June have until the end of September 30, 2023, to get their coverage restored. We are still working on the final numbers of people who lost their Medi-Cal coverage in July, but we do know that more than 34,000 people in Los Angeles County alone lost their coverage. People who did not return their redetermination packet during the month of July have until October 31, 2023 to get their coverage restored.

More than 1 million Californians need to return their renewal packets in the month of August 2023 to keep their coverage in place. Make sure that you and anyone else that you care about who is a Medi-Cal recipient are keeping an eye out for a yellow envelope in the mail and noting what date you need to return all requested information to your Medi-Cal office to not lose your coverage. Watch this video to get step-by-step instructions on how to renew your Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid.

You can visit KeepMedi-CalCoverage.org to update your contact information, check your redetermination status, submit information, and find more help in your local area. 

Medi-Cal’s Continuous Coverage During Pandemic is OVER. What Happens Next?!

The public health emergency has ended and now all people who receive Medi-Cal coverage will need to complete the annual renewal process again, just like before the pandemic.

All Medi-Cal member will be contacted by their local county office to complete their renewal packet. You will receive your renewal packet in the mail in a YELLOW envelope. Your renewal letter will tell you what information you need to provide any by what date to avoid any gaps in your coverage.

You can update you contact information and access more tools to help you with this renewal process at KeepMediCalCoverage.org, or by calling your local county office.

If you get SSI, Social Security will process your Medi-Cal renewal. If you need to report any address or contact information changes to social security you can do so by calling (800) 772-1213, or by contacting your local Social Security Office.

If you no longer qualify for Medi-Cal, you may be able to get health coverage through Covered California. Losing Medi-Cal allows you to enroll in a Covered California plan outside of the open enrollment period. Your local county office will send you information about how to sign up.

COMPLETE YOUR RENEWAL PACKET BEFORE THE DEADLINE TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY COVERED!

The Arc of California Supports Increased Medi-Cal Rates for In-Home Private Duty Nurses

Families in California have long struggled to get nursing care at home for medically fragile children. Even after doctors have deemed home care necessary to keep their kids healthy and safe, many Californians have been unable to secure enough nurses to fill their allocated hours.

The goal of the Medi-Cal Home and Community Based Services program, especially Private Duty Nursing (PDN) services, is to keep medically fragile Californians, particularly our children, in their homes — the setting that promotes their highest quality of life, allowing them the opportunity to be with their families and engage in their communities — and out of more expensive institutional settings.

The Arc of California is proud to join a broad coalition that is pushing this year for a 40% Medi-Cal rate increase to help attract and retain nurses who provide home healthcare to pediatric patients.

Take Action to Keep Your Medi-Cal Coverage

Do you or a family member currently have health coverage or regional center services funded through Medi-Cal? If so, here’s what you need to know so you can keep your Medi-Cal.

Annual Medi-Cal eligibility renewals have been paused for the last three years due to the pandemic. Starting April 1st, redeterminations will resume. Be on the lookout for a Medi-Cal renewal letter in the mail from your local county office. Make sure your name, address, email address, and phone number are up to date with your local county office. You can give your local county your information by mail, phone, in person, or online.

If you have Medi-Cal, your local county office will try and renew your Medi-Cal. They will use the information they have. The local county office will only ask you for more information if they need it to renew your Medi-Cal. If you receive a renewal packet or a letter asking for more information, you may submit the information by mail, phone, in person, or online.

If your contact information has changed, you can update it online at KeepMediCalCoverage.org, or by calling your local county office.

If you get SSI, Social Security will process your Medi-Cal renewal. If you need to report any address or contact information changes to social security you can do so by calling (800) 772-1213, or by contacting your local Social Security Office.

We have learned that the longest-enrolled individuals will be reviewed first. The first group of people who are deemed ineligible is set to be disenrolled from Medi-Cal health coverage and services starting in July. The state has 14 months, beginning in April, to complete the eligibility renewal process for all current Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

If you no longer qualify for Medi-Cal, you may be able to get health coverage through Covered California. Losing Medi-Cal allows you to enroll in a Covered California plan outside of the open enrollment period. Your local county office will send you information about how to sign up.

We will share more information about redeterminations, denials, and the appeals process in the near future. Remember: update your address if it has changed. We don’t want you to miss your renewal letter and risk losing your Medi-Cal benefits.

Help People With Disabilities Keep Their Medi-Cal Coverage!

The Medi-Cal continuous coverage mandate will end on March 31, 2023. On April 1, county offices throughout California will restart eligibility renewals to determine if current recipients still qualify for free or low-cost Medi-Cal.

Individuals with disabilities are at an increased risk of losing or experiencing a gap in coverage due to upcoming changes in completing the renewal process.

The California Department of Health Care Services has created valuable resources that you can share with your stakeholders, community partners, family, and friends to help ensure that people with disabilities have access and the information needed to keep their Medi-Cal coverage.

Click HERE to view resource toolkit.

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