We need the help of ALL homecare consumers, providers, supporters, and their families.  Please help us RIGHT AWAY to restore funding for IHSS. Here’s what is happening;

As part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last year, a program called FMAP has provided billions of dollars in Medicaid funds to California and other states to help provide services such as IHSS. That program is set to expire at the end of the year.

We have been working closely with our Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C. to extend the FMAP program for an additional six months. Unfortunately, at the last moment, the House of Representatives has dropped the FMAP extension from the jobs bill.

This will have devastating consequences for IHSS. Without FMAP funds from the federal government, state costs for IHSS will increase in the 2010-2011 state budget from $1.4 billion to $1.8 billion. This will make our efforts to prevent cuts in the IHSS program even more difficult.

We need to use every resource we have to persuade Democratic Members of Congress to support FMAP funding. That is why we are asking you to email or call your Congressional Representative AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Here’s an example of what you should say:

“Hi, I’m calling about the decision to strip the Medicaid funding from the jobs bill. This was a huge mistake, and one that I’m extremely angry about. This money is meant to help states shore up budget shortfalls, and we were counting on this money for our state for next year. Without it, we’re looking at more cuts for programs like IHSS and layoffs of thousands of homecare providers in your District.,

This isn’t just a regular vote for us. This needs to be fixed and fixed now. We need you to communicate with the House leadership and make sure to help us get FMAP money back into the jobs bill when you return from Memorial Day recess.”

Here’s a list of our Democratic Congressional Representatives, along with their District office phone numbers. Please contact them right away!  To email them, click here and fill in your state and zip code.

Kern
Rep., Jim Costa (D) –District 20
661-869-1620

Merced
Rep., Dennis Cardoza (D) – District 18
209-383-4455

Orange
Rep., Loretta Sanchez (D) –District 47
714-621-0102

Santa Barbara
Rep., Lois Capps (D)-District 23
805-985-6807

San Diego
Rep., Bob Filner (D) – District 51
619-422-5963

Rep., Susan Davis (D)- District 53
619-280-5353

San Luis Obispo
Rep., Lois Capps (D) –District 23
805-985-6807

Stanislaus
Rep., Dennis Cardoza(D) –District 18
209-383-4455

You can also help by calling your U.S. Senators and urging them to keep Medicaid FMAP funding in the Senate version of the jobs bill. Click on this link to be connected:
Call your U.S. Senators

Thank you for your support of UDW.