Two things happened this week which show that voters are letting politicians know how they feel about the importance of protecting Medicare and Medicaid.

On Tuesday, May 24, in a special election held in a long time Republican district, Democrat Kathy Hochul was elected. Then on May 25, the U.S. Senate rejected Congressman Paul Ryan’s proposal to block grant Medicaid and turn Medicare into a voucher program instead of a straight health insurance program for seniors and adults on Social Security Disability.

National television’s political pundits are primarily focusing on senior’s concerns about Medicare as a key factor in both the Congressional election and the Senate vote. Many also ask, if Medicare is fully protected in budget negotiations, will Medicaid be more deeply cut instead?

Medicaid’s opponents have historically tried to portray it negatively as a “welfare” program without any significant impact on “most” people. However, a National Public Radio blog reports on new polling data showing that the majority of the public see a different reality and oppose cuts to the program:

“This month’s health tracking poll from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation finds that only 13 percent of those polled support major reductions in Medicaid spending as part of congressional efforts to reduce the deficit. At the same time, 60 percent want to keep Medicaid as it is. That means having the federal government guarantee coverage and set minimum standards for benefits and eligibility for every state.

“Perhaps even more striking, although maybe it shouldn’t be given how much Medicaid has grown in recent years, is that more than half of respondents said they had a personal connection to the Medicaid program. That was defined as the respondent or a friend or family member having received assistance from the program at some point.”

Perhaps people are increasingly recognizing the importance of Medicaid because it is a primary source of payment for long term care services. In 2009, New York’s Medicaid program spent over $20 billion on meeting the long term care needs of its residents. No wonder that more than half those polled have a friend or family member who has depended on Medicaid to meet this critical need.

Disability rights advocates, including many seniors, are urging that Congress try saving money by reversing the institutional bias in Medicaid, not by cutting it. When Medicaid was first created in 1965, it mandated that states pay for nursing facilities but made home services optional. That must change. It’s not only fiscally responsible, it’s the law. People have the civil right to choose to receive needed long term care services in their own home.

The Community Choice Act (CCA) would make that civil right a reality. But some politicians still ask whether giving people a choice in long term care services would cost too much.

Last year, the Harris Poll conducted a national poll about whether the public would be willing to pay taxes to cover the cost of implementing the CCA ($6.07 per middle class taxpayer per year), and 89% of the respondents said “yes.” The results are detailed in ADAPT’s “The Costs and Benefits of CCA” (PDF, WORD).
Now we need to ensure that all of our federal policy makers know how we feel about preserving Medicaid and reversing the institutional bias. If you would like to become part of CDR’s Advocacy Network, please fill out our Advocacy and Communication Form and return it to datias@cdrnys.org.