Urgent action needed to prevent changes to Medicaid elibility rules

From NAELA comes this urgent message:

Congress will soon be voting on two bills that will make changes to the Medicaid transfer rules.  These changes could have a profound negative impact on the ability of the middle class to pay for long term care.  The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, www.ncpssm.org, has established an automated Senior Flash Hotline to provide any easy means for communicating your concerns to Members of Congress.  By calling the Senior Flash Hotline at 1-800-998-0180 callers are automatically connected to their Senators and Representatives and provided an opportunity to urge them to oppose cuts to the Medicaid budget and to oppose changes to the nursing home transfer of assets rules.

The time is now. With added pressure on Congress to find budget cuts to offset the costs associated with the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the situation calls for all of us to take action immediately!

    * Thursday, October 20, the Senate Finance Committee meets on budget reconciliation. Yes, this is this week!!!!
    * Later in October, the House Energy and Commerce Committee meets on budget reconciliation.

If you haven’t yet written your representative and senators yet, do so TODAY by clicking here http://www.naela.org/private/OurGov/government_affairs.html.

Because Congress is in session, fax or e-mail your letters to their Capitol Hill offices as soon as possible.  Consider asking your clients to call or write as well.