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Catholic Charities USA Urges Senate to Move on Legislation toProvide Vital Health Care Coverage to Hurricane Victims

Posted on: Wednesday, 5 October 2005, 15:00 CDT

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 5 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Catholic Charities USA is urging Senators to quickly pass crucial legislation that would provide temporary health care coverage for hurricane survivors through the Medicaid program. The bipartisan Emergency Health Care Relief Act of 2005, (S. 1716), was introduced last month by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). Despite bi- partisan support, full Senate action on the bill has been delayed several times.

The legislation would:

-- offer Medicaid coverage with streamlined eligibility and enrollment procedures to all those affected by Hurricane Katrina with incomes at 100 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), as well as all pregnant women and children survivors up to 200 percent of the FPL;

-- provide 100 percent federal Medicaid matching for areas affected by Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama until December 2006;

-- provide for temporary 100 percent federal Medicaid payments to every state for all eligible Katrina survivors; and

-- create a fund for providers to help offset increases in uncompensated health care costs as a result of Katrina.

"In response to the disaster, the federal government can and should act to implement a health services strategy that ensures immediate access to health services for low-income and newly impoverished individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina," wrote the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), and the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) in a joint letter to U.S. senators.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have already approved waivers for expedited eligibility determination for Katrina survivors in four states around the disaster area. However, without enactments of S.1716, childless adults will not be eligible and the most devastated states will have to bear the costs for care.

"We applaud the Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its expeditious response to make health services available to those in need, and for doing everything that the agency is authorized to do, including the use of state waivers, under current law in order to extend health care coverage to individuals in need following the Katrina disaster. However, we believe it is necessary to create seamless eligibility for the victims of Hurricane Katrina across state lines and to allow the government to ensure full federal funding of health care services for all Katrina victims, wherever they may be," said the letter.

The joint letter was signed by Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, PhD, DD., bishop of Brooklyn and chairman of USCCB's Domestic Policy Committee; Rev. Larry Snyder, president of CCUSA, and Michael Rodgers, interim president and CEO of CHA.

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Catholic Charities USA's membersbmore than 1,300 local agencies and institutions nationwidebprovide help and create hope for more than 6.5 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. For more than 275 years, local Catholic Charities agencies have been providing a myriad of vital services in their communities, ranging from day care and counseling to food and housing. For more information, visit http:// www.catholiccharitiesinfo.org.

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http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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