What's happening?

Here’s a synopsis from our advocacy partners at Prevent Blindness:

• Congress is considering a budget resolution with at least $880 billion in cuts to programs under the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees the Medicaid program. 
• Medicaid is a public insurance program that provides essential health care for more than 72 million Americans, including many who have vision impairment, vision loss, blindness, chronic disease, or conditions that cause low vision.
• House Republicans are expected to seek cuts in the Medicaid program to achieve President Trump's agenda of extending first-term tax cuts from 2017.

“This is, unfortunately, a very serious threat and will impact the medically complex individuals who rely on Medicaid waivers,” says Kathryne Hart, PCVIS board member and advocacy committee co-leader.

What is in the budget resolution?

The budget resolution calls for deep cuts to critical social safety net programs, including Medicaid. This would impact children’s access to medical care, therapies, assistive technology, and Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), all of which are essential for their lives and well-being. 

The plan proposes:

• Converting federal Medicaid funding into block grants or per capita caps. 
• This would limit federal contributions and shift more financial responsibility to states. 
• As a result, states would have to reduce services or cut benefits altogether.

The plan also calls for stricter work requirements and increased eligibility verifications for Medicaid recipients, which would create significant barriers for disabled individuals who cannot work or who may struggle with administrative burdens, potentially leading to the loss of life-sustaining health care and services.

It's not too late to contact Congress

The House and Senate currently have two different versions of the Budget Resolution and have until April 15 to agree upon a path forward. Here's a breakdown of the budget process.

Why do Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) matter?

For children with CVI and other disabilities, LTSS are not optional—they are life-sustaining. These supports allow them to receive care at home, attend school, participate in their communities, and live full, meaningful lives. 

“Without LTSS, many children will face institutionalization, away from their families in segregated, often dangerous settings,” says Mara LaViola, PCVIS board member and advocacy committee co-lead. “Cutting Medicaid means cutting these services, leaving families with impossible choices and children without the support they need to thrive.”

Legislators need to hear directly from the families who will be most impacted. They need to hear from you. 

What can you do?

Here are suggestions for what you can do today, courtesy of advocate and PCVIS board member Mara LaViola:

• Make 5 calls. Use the 5 Calls App to quickly find your US legislators and scripts to help guide your conversation.
• Tell your story. Explain how Medicaid and LTSS impact your child’s life. Share what these cuts would mean for your family.
• Be clear: This is not about efficiency—it is about whose lives are valued. Let them know that dismantling Medicaid is an attack on disabled children and their families. 

If we don’t speak up, decisions will be made without us.