Urgent Call to Action: Safeguard Medicaid Services for Iowa’s Most Vulnerable Youth
“The House and Senate members are beginning to form the budget for the coming year,” stated Anne Starr, the Orchard Place CEO. “There is a proposal to cut Medicaid rates. This would be extremely harmful to our ability to provide access to critical front door mental health intervention for the youth of our community, and especially harmful to youth in poverty like our many Medicaid eligible kids.”
Act Now!
If you believe every child deserves access to timely mental health care, we urge you to speak up. Contact your state legislators, share this message with your community, and advocate for Medicaid reimbursement reform. Together, we have the ability to develop strong futures for every Iowa child.
Email Example:
Dear _________(Senator or Representative______) ;
I am writing regarding a proposal in the Governor’s budget regarding Medicaid provider reimbursement rates. That proposal would result in a significant reduction in rates to behavioral health providers across the state. I work for Orchard Place where many of our youth are covered by Medicaid because they live in poverty. The proposed rate reduction would jeopardize our ability, along with providers like us across Iowa, to continue to provide these vitally important services. Without these therapy services, there will be literally hundreds of youths in the community and across Iowa without access to basic mental health care.
Do not decrease rates; hold children harmless in this proposed rate setting and ensure behavioral health providers can continue to offer access to these important Iowans who are the future.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D)
Representative Thomas Jay Moore (R)
Representative Austin Baeth (D)
Representative Brett Barker (R)
Representative Kenan Judge (D)
