Provided by Health Care for All:

Sample letters supporting MassHealth (Medicaid):

1) A letter to Governor Romney asking him to restore MassHealth and to oppose President Bush's proposal to block-grant Medicaid (resulting in less Medicaid money for states in the long run), and to support legislation to increase federal Medicaid assistance for states.

2) Letters to State Representative _____ and State Senator _____ [fill in the blanks], asking them to oppose Governor Romney's proposed cuts to MassHealth and to work to restore other programs. Note: you can find out who the State Reps and Senators are for people in your groups by going to http://www.wheredoivotema.com/electedofficials.php or http://www.state.ma.us/legis/citytown.htm to or by calling 617 722 2000 (the State House).

3) Letters to Senators Kerry and Kennedy, asking them to oppose President Bush's proposal to block-grant Medicaid and to support legislation to increase federal Medicaid assistance for states. Please feel free to adapt the attached letters for your own groups.

For more information about changes in health care in Massachusetts and what you can do to protect access to quality care for Mass. residents, visit our website, www.hcfama.org. Health Care For All is building a movement of empowered people and communities with the goal of creating a health care system that is responsive to the needs of all people, particularly the most vulnerable. Health Care For All is dedicated to making quality health care a right of all people.

March 5, 2003

Dear Senator or Representative __
Massachusetts State House
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator/Representative __

I am extremely concerned about the major cuts that MassHealth has suffered over the last year, and the risk of further cuts. These cuts will have a devastating effect on many Massachusetts residents and on our economy.

MassHealth allows many Massachusetts residents to be healthy and productive members of society. Moreover, MassHealth provides crucial financial support to the health care system. We cannot afford to lose almost $3 billion in federal matching funds each year. Cutting MassHealth will also increase costs to the Free Care Pool, health care providers and the state. This combination will damage an already shaky economy.

I ask you to commit to protecting MassHealth. Please work with the legislature to restore all cuts, resist any future cuts, and maintain this important program.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your Address

March 5, 2003

Governor Mitt Romney
Massachusetts State House
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Governor Romney,

I am gravely concerned about the major cuts that MassHealth has suffered over the last year, and the risk of further cuts. These cuts will have a devastating effect on many Massachusetts residents as well as on our economy.

MassHealth allows many Massachusetts residents to be healthy and productive members of society. MassHealth medical care enables adults to hold jobs and to live independently in the community.

Moreover, MassHealth provides crucial financial support to the health care system. We cannot afford to lose almost $3 billion in federal matching funds each year. Cutting MassHealth will also increase costs to the Free Care Pool, health care providers and the state. This combination will damage an already shaky economy.

I ask you to commit to protecting MassHealth . Please work with the legislature to restore all cuts, resist any future cuts, and maintain this important program. Please continue to support increasing federal matching funds, and please work with your fellow governors in opposing Medicaid block grants, which will shift many of the risks and costs of health care to states. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address

March 5, 2003

Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

or

Senator Edward Kennedy
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

Dear Senator Kennedy,

I am writing to express my grave concern about the state of health care in Massachusetts.

I am particularly concerned about the impact of past and future cuts on people with disabilities. Over the past year MassHealth has suffered severe cutbacks that are placing peoples' health in jeopardy. MassHealth medical care enables adults to hold jobs and live independently in the community.. The cuts will have a devastating effect on the lives of many residents of Massachusetts as well as on our economy.

MassHealth provides crucial financial support to the health care system. We cannot afford to lose almost $3 billion in federal matching funds each year. Cutting MassHealth will also increase costs to the Free Care Pool, health care providers and the state. This combination will damage an already shaky economy.

President Bush proposes to "block-grant" Medicaid programs and to allow states more flexibility-at a very high price. As you know, while this proposal would at first give states additional Medicaid funding, over the long run block-granting will reduce federal assistance to states for health care costs. A growing number of people in Massachusetts are going without needed care due to cuts to vital programs. We need more federal assistance over the long term. Please work to protect health care for Massachusetts residents by opposing the creation of Medicaid block grants and by supporting increased federal Medicaid matching funds. This will help ensure that Massachusetts has adequate revenue to provide health care for all its residents.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address