WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps’ statement for the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee hearing on “Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net” (H.R. 5613) as prepared for delivery:

“Chairman Pallone, thank you for holding this important hearing.

“I am proud to be a cosponsor of HR 5613, because it is imperative that we protect the Medicaid safety net.  The harmful Bush Administration regulations will affect our ability to properly serve the Medicaid population in the most egregious ways.

“In particular, I’m worried about the impact of the regulation regarding school-based health services.  This will have a terribly negative effect on the special needs students in my district and countless other districts across the country. 

“These students are only able to attend school with their peers because of critical services provided to them by their school district.  Without reimbursement for transportation and administrative costs, school districts will have to scramble for ways to provide children with necessary services.  As the Children’s Health Initiative of Santa Barbara put it, “schools are, for many students and families, the only gateway to health services.”

“Furthermore, schools are an integral part of conducting outreach in order to enroll eligible students for Medicaid services.  And it’s hard to see this directive as anything other than an attempt to shut these children out. 

“I am also concerned about the rule concerning Targeted Case Management, which is a critical service for individuals transitioning from institutions to community based care. 

“A few months ago I received an email from the program manager of the Linkages Care Management Program of the Life Steps Foundation in San Luis Obispo County.  She wrote “Right now we serve 125 seniors and disabled adults with 2.75 care managers and have almost 80 people on our waiting list.  There is such a huge need and our resources are truly stretched to the max.”  Imagine what will happen to those 205 people in San Luis Obispo County alone if this rule went into effect.

“And finally I’d like to mention my deep concern for the “IGT” rule.  I am especially concerned of the effect of this rule on public hospitals in California, including those at our prestigious University of California system.

“So I join my colleagues in supporting HR 5613 and applaud the Committees swift action to address all of these harmful regulations.  I know there is strong bipartisan support for a moratorium and look forward to working with the Members of this Committee to prevent them from ever going into effect.”

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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.