May 15, 2017 Joan Alker Proponents of the American Health Care Act (AHCA),which both effectively eliminates the ACA’s Medicaid expansion AND establishes a cap on federal spending cap for the entire Medicaid program, often say that they are preserving the Medicaid program for the “most vulnerable.” The AHCA would actually do the opposite for the most vulnerable children on Medicaid – those with severe disabilities — and their parents, who will have even fewer choices, and less access to care and peace of mind if it were to become law. Medicaid is of critical importance to children with special health care needs such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. A recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation describes the role of Medicaid for these children, and finds that Medicaid and other sources of public coverage are the primary source of insurance for nearly half (44%) of all children with special health care needs . Children with special health care needs suffe
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