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Family Opportunity Act

Summary:

Success! On May 7, 2004, the Senate led by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and 65 other co-sponsors finally passed S622 - the Family Opportunity Act. The Family Opportunity Act which was first introduced more than three years ago would allow families earning up to 250% of the federal poverty level to obtain Medicaid coverage for their children with serious disabilities.

Action now shifts to the House, where a companion bill (H.R. 1811) introduced by Representatives Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) is pending. H.R. 1811 currently has 107 cosponsors.

Action Needed

Contact Senator Rockefeller and thank him for his support of the Family Opportunity Act.

Past Action Needed:

Contact your representatives and urge them to ask Reps. Hastert and DeLay to take immediate action on the Family Opportunity Act. WV Representatives include:

The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito
1431 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2711
Fax: 202-225-7856

Congressman Alan B. Mollohan
2302 Rayburn House Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4172 Fax: 202-225-7564

Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II
2307 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-3452
Fax: 202-225-9061

Contact your Senators and urge them to ask Majority Leader Frist to take immediate action on the Family Opportunity Act. WV Senators include:

Byrd, Robert - (D - WV)
311 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
202-224-3954
Web Form: www.byrd.senate.gov/byrd_email.html

Rockefeller, John - (D - WV)
531 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510
202-224-6472
Email: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov

There are less than 50 legislative days left in this session of Congress and lots of things that need to be addressed * this must be a priority. Feel free to edit the sample letter on the AUCD Action Center: http://capwiz.com/aauap/home/.

Background:

The Family Opportunity Act (S. 622) was re-introduced in the 108th Congress by Senators Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) on March 13 and passed by the Finance Committee on September 10. S. 622 currently has 62 co-sponsors. A companion bill (H.R. 1811) was introduced in the House by Representatives by Reps. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) on April 11 and referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee. H.R. 1811 now has 95 co-sponsors. The Energy and Commerce Committee has not taken any action on the bill.

The Family Opportunity Act amends Title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow states to offer middle-income families of children with disabilities (up to 250 percent of poverty) the option of buying into Medicaid. These children are often uninsured or underinsured because employer-provided insurance is not available, is too expensive, or offers very limited benefits. Parents are frequently forced to remain in dead-end jobs to keep any health insurance or forced to turn down jobs and impoverish their families so they can qualify for federal health benefits. Parents are also forced to put their children in institutions if they can't get needed supports and services in the community. FOA would help families stay together. It truly is family-friendly legislation.

Giving parents the option of buying into Medicaid and paying on a sliding scale basis would give their children with disabilities access to the full range of Medicaid services, including those provided through the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program. Another provision of the bill would support Family to Family Health Information Centers to assist families of children with disabilities in making informed choices about health care.

Updated: September 24, 2004