Economic recovery package helps children and families

Economic recovery package helps children and families

Greetings,

Congress is currently considering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is the bill, widely discussed and reported, that is the $825 billion economic recovery package. The bill includes critical provisions that increase federal funding for Medicaid and foster care programs to states. These increases will allow states to save funding and use it to support important services for Iowa’s children and famlies. Help Lutheran Services in Iowa let our government know that the health and safety of our children must be among our most critical priorities in this time of economic and social crisis.

Please urge your Iowa Senators, Grassley and Harkin, and your Iowa Congressman to support this bill. This week, the House is expected to begin consideration of these proposals.  Senate action is expected to begin shortly as well with the goal of sending a final bill to President Obama by February 13.

Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Congressperson
Your Senators

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Support the latest economic recovery package

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As a concerned citizen of the state of Iowa, I urge you to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As you know, Iowa's government is urgently trying to balance the state's budget and this bill includes provisions critical to funding programs that affect children and families.

By supporting this bill, you support federal matching funds that provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children until the children are safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency.

The same package will also increase federal funding of Medicaid. This increase in federal Medicaid funds will lessen the amount of Medicaid dollars the state must provide. This decrease in state Medicaid dollars will allow more funds to go to critical human services budgets.

These issues are important to the continuation of human services that residents of Iowa rely on. Human service agencies, like Lutheran Services in Iowa, also heavily rely on these Medicaid funds to provide services throughout the state. Without this federal funding, Iowa will ultimately have to cut a portion of these important budgets, adversely affecting children, families and individuals who are in need of these services now more than ever.

Please support this economic recovery package. During these difficult economic times, Iowans and Americans look to you and our government for guidance and support. We appreciate the difficult decisions you are making and know you will keep the best interest of our families in mind as decisions are made.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
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What's At Stake:

Congress is currently considering the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is the bill, widely discussed and reported, which is the $825 billion economic recovery package.

It includes $87 billion for the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP or Medicaid) and Title IV-E  is the federal Foster Care Program. This significant increase in FMAP would help bolster Medicaid and children’s health resources in every state. 

This is particularly important for the states, including Iowa, who are facing budget crises and may be forced to cut health care funding. By law, Iowa is required to have a balanced budget. This bill will increase the amount of federal dollars coming to the state. With more federal funding, Iowa will be able to significantly reduce the state funds used to support Medicaid services allowing the state to use those dollars to fund other human service programs that children, families and individuals rely on.

It will also provide important financial support to the non-profit community, like Lutheran Services in Iowa as we carry out  services. More than 50% of LSI's agency revenue comes from Medicaid payments. These additional federal funds will support the work of LSI in many of its services including our PMIC and residential treatment centers, remedial services and our services for people with disablities.


Title IV-E:

Title IV-E  is the federal Foster Care Program. Authorized under title IV-E of the Social Security Act, as amended, the Foster Care Maintenance Payments Program provides Federal matching funds of 50 to 83 percent, depending on the state's per capita income.  It helps States to provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children until the children are safely returned home, placed permanently with adoptive families or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency.  The State must submit yearly estimates of program expenditures as well as quarterly reports of estimated and actual program expenditures to receive the federal funds which are available for: monthly maintenance payments to eligible foster care providers; administrative costs to manage the program; training staff and foster parents; foster parent recruitment; and other related expenses.

 

Title IV-E programs will receive a 4.9% increase in federal payments under draft economic stimulus legislation being prepared this week in the House of Representatives. 

FMAP:

The same package will also increase the federal funding for Medicaid, with the increase even higher in high-unemployment states. The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAPs) are used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments for certain social services, and State medical and medical insurance expenditures. The Social Security Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to calculate and publish the FMAPs each year.

 

Both increases are intended to prevent state-level cuts in these respective programs by shifting more of the cost burden to the federal government. Iowa is among many states facing deficits in the coming year, as we all know. The federal increase comes through an increase in FMAP, or Federal Medical Assistance Percentage.

This week, the House is expected to begin consideration of these proposals.  Senate action is expected to begin shortly as well with the goal of sending a final bill to President Obama by February 13.  
 
TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please urge your Iowa Senators, Grassley and Harkin, and your Iowa Congressman to support these critical provisions, that will save funding support for important services for Iowa’s Children and Famlies. The health and safety of our children must be among our most critical priorities in this time of economic and social crisis.


Campaign Expiration Date:
February 25, 2009