MEDICAID BUDGET DEAL AND ITS IMPACT ON CHILD HEALTH
By Carol Berkowitz, M.D., AAP President

"Last night, Congress approved $10 billion in cuts over five years from Medicaid, the largest provider of health care to children. While the funding cut could have been larger, there is no solace for families who will ultimately deal with the consequences.

"Seventy percent of children covered by Medicaid live in families with at least one working parent. The economics in this country are making it tougher and tougher to stretch out the family paycheck. Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. With last night's vote, low-income families will probably end up paying more for their health care too. Medicaid is the safety net that caught thousands of children as parents lost employer-based health care coverage or it became too expensive. Some congressional members have said this is a 'reduction in growth' for Medicaid. What's growing is the number of families and children who need help.

"Medicaid is a program with mandatory and optional populations. There is nothing optional about needing health care. Children with special health care needs-those with serious disabilities and health conditions-are often in the "optional" Medicaid population. The health care needs of children aren't going to disappear with the Medicaid dollars. If children's health care services in Medicaid are targeted for the cuts, we will have more families choosing food and gasoline over co-pays and premiums, and delaying health needs. That can lead to more crowded emergency rooms with sicker children.

"Congress has until September to determine how to cut the $10 billion from Medicaid. The American Academy of Pediatrics will work to protect children's benefits and services from the cuts. We will also continue to advocate for a bipartisan Medicaid Commission with provider and patient representatives, and adequate time to evaluate the program.

"As much as we want our patients to grow up healthy and flourish, budgets like this one will only help too many to flounder."

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.