March 7, 2025
The Boost News
Medicaid-funded services are a lifeline for the intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD) community. A cut in federal Medicaid dollars would put New York providers and the individuals they support “in an epic level of crisis,” Sen. Patricia Fahy, chair of the Disabilities Committee, told The Boost.
But that’s exactly what New Yorkers and the rest of the country could be facing. Despite President Trump’s public statements that Medicaid would not be touched, he has endorsed a House budget bill that could lead to brutal cuts in the program.
While the GOP also claims massive cuts are not coming, it’s been widely reported that GOP lawmakers are considering, at minimum, a plan to limit federal matching funds for the program.
Add to this a report released this week by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which found that Republicans can’t achieve their goal of slashing $2 trillion in federal spending over the next decade without cutting Medicaid, and the program looks very much in risk.
To help stave off the cuts, now is the time to speak up. A host of organizations have done the hard work for you, putting together everything from Medicaid fact sheets to talking points to make reaching out to your legislators easy and efficient to do. Below you’ll find the needed information from various organizations, including a plain language action alert from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN).
ANCOR
Resources:
How to advocate:
This association of community-based providers has created a toolbox to help you educate policymakers on the essential, life-changing services funded by Medicaid.
Visit Advocate to preserve I/DD services for an easy-to-use form with information on how tell your Senators and Representative to reject Medicaid cuts and protect services for people with I/DD.
THE ARC US
Resources:
The Arc NY Medicaid Fact Sheet
The Arc New York & NYDA’s Congressional District Info Sheets Use these district-specific info sheets and maps to inform your representative of the local impact in their district.
Storytelling Toolkit for People With Disabilities and Advocates
How to advocate:
The Arc US one-click campaign is here. This will send a letter directly to your Congressional representative.
In addition to sending the letter, there are options within the one-click to:
- Be directly connected via phone to your representative
- Send a pre-written message via X/Twitter to your representative
AUTISTIC SELF ADVOCACY NETWORK (ASAN)
Resources & how to advocate:
ASAN has a new plain language Action Alert all about Medicaid.
You can learn everything you need to know about what is happening with Medicaid in Congress right now by reading its plain language Action Alert. The Action Alert will tell you:
- What is happening with Medicaid in Congress right now
- How to talk to your Representative and Senators by scheduling a meeting, talking on the phone, or sending an email
- Ideas and scripts for what you can say to your Representative and Senators about protecting Medicaid
Once you’ve read the alert, you’ll have everything you need to take action to save Medicaid.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation is sharing these excellent resources: