Late Wednesday, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickles (R-OK) put forward a budget resolution that, if enacted, would cut Medicaid by at least $11 billion over five years.  

If enacted, this will result in an increase in the number of uninsured and even more severe cuts to Medicaid than we have seen over the past few years.  In addition, this comes at a time when most states are still suffering from the recession and the increased federal relief is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2004.  The inclusion of this provision in the budget resolution will make the extension of temporary fiscal relief (or FMAP) even more difficult.

We must move quickly on this issue as the full Senate is scheduled to debate and vote on the Budget Resolution this week (week of March 8.)