Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes, issued the following statement on the proposed budget that the Administration released yesterday:
"The budget proposal released by the Administration this morning opens the door to the elimination of critical health services for the most vulnerable women, infants and children. The March of Dimes strongly opposes any attempt to narrow Medicaid benefits for these at risk groups. Medicaid is the single most important source of coverage for maternity services, accounting for 1.4 million (37%) of births in hospitals, and the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program is a lifeline for millions of low income infants and children. Many of these children, such as the recent March of Dimes National Ambassador who needed multiple surgeries before reaching school age, require extensive treatment. Watching these children grow and develop seems a miracle, a miracle often the result of Medicaid and EPSDT services. We should be strengthening, not weakening this program so essential to the health of mothers and children.
"The March of Dimes is very pleased that President Bush proposes increased funding for community health centers. These centers are an important source of maternal and child health services, particularly in rural communities and inner cities. Women of child-bearing age comprise 30% of the patient population receiving health care at these centers. However, we are troubled about the impact the proposed Medicaid budget changes could have on the viability of these centers that depend on funding from that program. In 2003, for example, nearly 36% of the patients seeking care at community health centers were insured through Medicaid.