Take Action!

Last week the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act of 2007 was introduced.  Tomorrow, August 1, 2007, the full House of Representatives will begin debate on this critical health legislation.

Key improvements to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicaid programs for children and adults with disabilities included in the CHAMP Act are:

• Reauthorizing SCHIP and covering an additional 5 million children over 5 years;

• Providing bonus payments to states to increase enrollment in SCHIP and Medicaid;

• Providing a state option to increase Medicaid eligibility to age 21;

• Establishing a one-year moratorium that prohibits the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services from restricting coverage or payment for rehabilitation services, or school-based (i.e., IDEA) administration, transportation, or medical services.

Key highlights of the legislation's improvements to the Medicare program for persons with disabilities are:

• Elimination of Medicare Part D prescription drug cost-sharing and treating dual eligibles (those who receive both Medicare and Medicaid) receiving community-based long-term services on par with institutionalized individuals. (There are approximately 500,000 dual eligibles with developmental disabilities.)

• Allowing Medicare Part D beneficiaries to change plans in the middle of the year if there is a "material" formulary change for a drug they have been prescribed.  (Many Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities also have complex chronic health conditions requiring several medications. This provision will allow them to receive the medications they need.)

Take Action

Call your Representative immediately and urge him/her to vote for the CHAMP Act (H.R. 3162) and to oppose all weakening amendments.

There are two call options:
1) Call toll free 1-800-828-0498 to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard. Ask for your Representative's office.
2) Enter your zip code in the window provided to obtain your Representative's office telephone number.