Q: What is the Family Opportunity Act?
A: For the last several years, I have led a bipartisan effort with Sen. Ted Kennedy to bring compassion and common sense to the nation's Medicaid laws. The federal-state health program provides health care coverage to low-income families and children, poor elderly, and the blind and disabled who receive cash assistance under Supplemental Security Income. For qualifying families with a disabled child, Medicaid provides critical access to essential health care services, including physical therapy and medical equipment, to help their children obtain comprehensive care and services that meet their health needs and assist them in reaching their fullest potential. However to remain eligible for the program, many parents of children with a disability are forced to take drastic measures to stay within an income bracket that qualifies their child for Medicaid assistance. Some parents have denied pay raises, deferred promotions or even given up custody of their own children to ensure eligibility. This sends the wrong message to society. The Family Opportunity Act would grant greater flexibility to the states, who administer the program, to allow them to create options for families with disabled children to buy into Medicaid while continuing to work. Instead of discouraging productivity and economic success, this bill would allow parents to build careers, earn more money and pay their own way for Medicaid coverage for their children. A government program that leads parents to stay in poverty or become impoverished makes absolutely no sense.
Q: What prompted you to push for the Family Opportunity Act?
A: An Iowa family from Red Oak inspired me to pursue changes to the law that in effect lead to situations where families are compelled to give up custody of their child or stay impoverished to qualify for the services Medicaid can secure for their child. A mother moved her two sons across the country to the Baltimore area to obtain medical care for her younger son who was born with a short thigh bone. Her story reveals a Catch-22 situation not uncommon to families struggling to make ends meet and obtain the health care services for a child with a disability. To stay within Medicaid income limits, she couldn't accept pay raises or allow her older son to take a part-time job. I want to see changes made that empower parents to get their children the health care services they need. The Family Opportunity Act also would provide funding for family resource centers to offer support, assistance and information to families working hard to navigate the system and find the necessary services for their children. Already with over half of the U.S. Senate signed on as co-sponsors, I hope we can get the job done this Congress and get these pro-family changes enacted into law. Parents want to secure the best possible care for their children. Congress ought to give states the flexibility to give families the opportunity to do so without the federal government getting in the way.