Lincoln Chafee: “this legislation is welfare reform. We dropped out the changes in Medicaid, and we are told that this is not a Medicaid…”

“this legislation is welfare reform. We dropped out the changes in Medicaid, and we are told that this is not a Medicaid bill. Yet, this bill permits the States not only to drop eligibility levels for cash assistance--AFDC--but also for Medicaid. The States can throw a woman and small children off cash assistance and at the same time take away their Medicaid, their only chance for any medical services. My amendment says, go ahead, if you wish, reduce eligibility levels for welfare, but Medicaid eligibility levels should remain as they are today. Furthermore, what constitutes income in calculating Medicaid eligibility remains as it is now. In other words, if my amendment is not adopted, States will be able to count school lunches and even disaster relief toward what makes a person eligible for Medicaid.”