The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51558

Margaret Dierkers, PhD, Deputy Director for Medical Assistance Programs, Pennslyvania Medicaid Program, Box 2675, Health and Welfare Building, Rm. 515, Harrisburg, PA 17105, 000-000-0000, PAMedicaid@state.pa.us

Across the country, many states have been hard-hit by the national economic recession. Low-income, working poor families have been the group slowest to recover their jobs and health care coverage. State Medicaid budgets have increased due to the resulting rising number of eligibles. Mandated and proposed federal policy changes impacting funding to states are having a particularly severe impact on the capacity of many states to provide access to medical care for their low-income populations. This paper will examine the impact on Pennslyvania’s legislative decision-making of proposed changes in federal Medicaid policy. (The Session will be followed by a hosted reception that will give participants an opportunity for informal discussions and for networking among activists and legislators)

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how mandated and proposed federal policy changes impacting Medicaid funding have affected Pennslyvania's initiatives to increase access to health care for low-income populations.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Legislative

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.