Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 11:34:22 -0500 From: Mary Ann Murphy Following is this month's sample letter on HIV/ AIDS issue. It is to be sent to President Clinton - his email address is PRESIDENT@WHITEHOUSE.GOV Please let us know if you send a letter fax or call - we'd like to know if our effort is working. November 15, 1995 The Hon. Bill Clinton, President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: By now you have probably vetoed the Medicaid bill sent to you by Congress. If so, please accept my deep appreciation for having done so. Now, the issue is what provisions should and should not be included in a bill which you should sign. I strongly oppose Congressional proposals to eliminate the entitlement status of Medicaid and convert the program into block grants. Even under the best of circumstances, the block granting of Medicaid to the states will cause millions of beneficiaries to lose their health care coverage. Such cuts would be devastating to people with AIDS. Medicaid provides over six times more funding for AIDS care than the Ryan White CARE Act, the next largest single source of AIDS resources. Major reductions in the level of funds available to states to run the program is also a significant problem. Most states already face difficulty in funding their portion of Medicaid at existing levels, and further burdens on them will lead to even greater funding shortfalls. Medicaid provides a safety net for people living with AIDS that should not be undermined. In addition, the elimination of federal Medicaid standards will result in an unpredictable patchwork system of AIDS care services leading to expensive emergency room care and lower quality of life. Therefore, there should be no elimination of federal standards for nursing homes. Any licensed hospital, clinic or provider who wishes to participate in Medicaid should be allowed to do so. In addition, co-payments should not be increased and premiums for Medicaid should not be introduced. The Medicaid system can be examined in an effort to enact positive reforms, but it should not be dismantled as the Congressional leadership's proposal would do. I am counting on you to protect this essential program, for the people who need it most, by taking a strong stand against Medicaid block grants and other negative proposed changes. I also hope you will convey these views to members of Congress. Very truly yours,