YONKERS – House Members Nita Lowey and Eliot Engel, both representing portions of Westchester and Rockland counties, Monday called for a moratorium on regulations proposed by President Bush that would cut federal funding for Medicaid, costing New York up to $7.4 billion and diminishing the quality of care that patients need, expect, and deserve.

“Unless Congress acts soon, harmful regulations could severely diminish New York hospitals’ ability to deliver high-quality health care,” said Lowey.  “We should be doing more to support high-quality, low-cost medical services – not less.  Reducing federal funding for Medicaid particularly targets low-income individuals and children with disabilities.  These drastic cuts are a prescription for disaster in New York’s heath system, and I will fight tooth and nail to preserve access to health care for the most vulnerable among us.”

“The administration-proposed rules would devastate state health budgets and hurt the people least cable to help themselves,” said Engel. “This is not a partisan issue – all 50 Governors have come out against these devastating proposals.  It’s another Bush Administration proposal to make up for the tax cuts for the wealthy by cutting medical aid to the poor.”

Over the last year, the Bush Administration has issued seven new Medicaid regulations that would greatly reduce the federal funding that states receive for rehabilitation services, school-based transportation services, and outreach, enrollment and case management services. The regulations would also significantly reduce funding for public hospitals and physician training. Under these regulations, states could lose nearly $50 billion in federal matching funds over the next five years, and New York State could lose approximately $7.4 billion over five years, starting May 25th.

The two Democrat lawmakers support including a moratorium on these regulations in an emergency supplemental spending bill that Congress expects to consider this week.