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The disability community is under attack by the federal government. On Thursday, June 25, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled State Medicaid Program Integrity: Examining Fraud Risks and Oversight Deficiencies.
California is one of only four states being called to testify, alongside New York, Minnesota, and Ohio. State Medicaid Directors from each state have been asked to appear before Congress as lawmakers continue a national conversation focused on Medicaid spending and allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse.
For Californians with disabilities, older adults, family caregivers, and low-income individuals, this hearing raises serious concerns.
Over the past several months, federal policymakers have increasingly used the language of “fraud, waste, and abuse” when discussing Medicaid and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Earlier this month, California was informed that approximately $1.3 billion in federal funding for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) would be withheld based on allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse. Click HERE to view The Arc of California’s Official Response.
For the disability community, these programs are not examples of waste. They are essential lifelines.
Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, helps millions of Californians access health care, personal care assistance, therapies, behavioral health services, employment supports, transportation, and Home and Community-Based Services that allow people with disabilities to live safely in their homes and communities rather than in institutions.
When policymakers focus solely on costs without understanding the real lives behind these programs, people with disabilities and their families are often left out of the conversation.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
The Arc of California encourages self-advocates, family members, caregivers, service providers, and community members to share their stories directly with Congress before the June 25 hearing.
Tell lawmakers:
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- How Medi-Cal, IHSS, or Home and Community-Based Services have impacted your life.
- Why these services are necessary, not wasteful.
- What could happen if funding is reduced or restricted.
- Why people with disabilities deserve the opportunity to live, work, and participate in their communities.
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Personal stories are one of the most powerful tools we have. Members of Congress need to hear directly from the people who rely on these services every day.
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- Send your email to Congressman John Joyce, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to Energy.commerce@mail.house.gov and copy info@thearcca.org
***Click HERE for a sample email letter.
2. If you live in the Bay Area and in the district of Congressman Kevin Mullin, who is currently the only California member serving on the committee, we encourage you to send your letters/emails directly to us at info@thearcca.org. The Arc of California will help ensure constituent stories and concerns are shared with Congressman Mullin’s office in advance of the hearing.
***Click HERE for a sample email letter.
The hearing will be held on Thursday, June 25, at 10:15 a.m. ET and will be livestreamed on the House Energy and Commerce Committee website.
Together, we can help policymakers understand that Medicaid (Medi-Cal) is not simply a budget item. It is health care, independence, dignity, and opportunity for millions of Americans, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Don’t forget to SHARE WIDELY!