As advocates and providers for the 4.1 million New Yorkers who rely on the Medicaid program, over 150 state organizations need your support to prevent potentially devastating changes to Medicaid at the federal level.

We are asking that Congress take action immediately: First, enact a one-year moratorium on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) proposed rule to cut federal reimbursements for services under Medicaid through Outpatient Clinics and Hospitals (Proposed Rule); and second, include in the second emergency supplemental stimulus package a temporary increase to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP).

Behavioral Health Services North has joined more than 150 New York health-care organizations sending a letter urging our congressional delegation to block this destructive new federal rule that would greatly reduce funding for a wide range of health-care providers across New York. Many clinics would be forced to close and reduce services at the very time they are most needed to protect the public health.

The federal rule would slash Medicaid funding for school-based health centers, dialysis clinics, adult day health centers, family-planning clinics, clinics for people with developmental disabilities and substance-abuse counseling and mental-health clinics.

In the next fiscal year, New York state is facing a budget deficit of $5.4 billion, and this gap is expected to grow to over $24.4 billion in the following three years. It is even more important during this fiscal crisis to ensure that New York state's most vulnerable citizens are protected. A temporary 2.95-percent increase in FMAP would give New York state $1.6 billion in fiscal relief so it can continue to maintain services for and protect its most fragile residents rather than forcing care into more extensive -- and expensive -- hospital and emergency-room treatment.

Appeal to our members of Congress to stop this detrimental Bush administration policy and implement a nationwide temporary increase in federal Medicaid assistance. Even though U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton recently wrote a letter to President Bush expressing their concerns over the proposed rule, and asking him to suspend its implementation, it is important that they, along with Rep. John McHugh, hear from each of us, their constituents.

The proposed cuts in funding for essential outpatient hospital and clinic services will hurt both the economy and millions of needy New Yorkers, while temporarily increasing the federal share of Medicaid costs will make it possible for our state and others to get through the current economic downturn with fewer cuts in essential services.

Community-based mental-health, substance-abuse and chemical-dependence treatment providers operate a broad range of life-sustaining services for some of New York's most vulnerable children and adults. The proposed rule would severely reduce availability of these vital services at precisely the moment when demand (as evidenced by long waiting lists) is increasing. The rule would also severely limit our system-wide efforts to enhance client outcomes through improved care coordination.

We need both the moratorium and the FMAP fix just to keep our community-based health-care infrastructure intact. Vital chemical-dependence treatment clinics will be closed if the proposed rule is implemented as will many clinics serving the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including people with disabilities and low incomes.

The proposed rule is currently under review by the federal Office of Management and Budget. The rule -- and the letter signed by more than 150 New York health-care organizations opposing it -- can be viewed at: www.fpaofnys.org

Join my voice and those of the many professionals in our state seeking help for our most vulnerable neighbors -- contact Senators Clinton and Schumer along with Representative John McHugh today.