Dear Representative _____________

I am writing you today as a constituent urging your support for fully funding the Medicaid rebase across North Carolina. As a support to preventative providers in our state, I want to make it clear that changes to rates and services will be detrimental to offices, providers, and clients that need these services for independent living and quality of life.

Between Rowan and Cabarrus Counties, there are at least 10 facilities who provide specialized therapies with focus areas of developmental disabilities, Autism, learning delays, feeding difficulties, and overall developmental delays. The therapists employed by these offices are considered preventative professionals, which lower overall expenses. As of writing this letter, 40.2% of children in Cabarrus County receive services funded by Medicaid and 46.5% of children in Rowan County receive services funded by Medicaid.

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The proposed minimum 3% reduction in reimbursement rates would have devastating consequences to this demographic:

- Reduced Access to Care: These services have been considered “optional” under Medicaid, facing constant rate decreases and shortfalls in support. These professions have not received a raise (omitting a temporary rate increase during the COVID-19 pandemic) in 20 years, despite the growing demand.
- Quality of Care Concerns & Provider Shortage: The “benefit” of being able to pay back the student loans while providing necessary services to children in need becomes a conflict between the humanity of providing necessary services and a conflict of needing a livelihood to combat rising cost of living. If we have cuts, we will not have providers. Without providers, we run the risk of losing the quality care for the counties they provide support to.

Your leadership in protecting access to specialized therapy services will make a meaningful difference in the lives of your constituents who rely on Medicaid coverage. My respectful request for action is:

1. Support full funding for the Medicaid rebase to establish fair and consistent reimbursement rates. As stated above, although these professions are growing in necessity, specialized therapies have not received a rate increase in 20 years.
2. Oppose the proposed minimum 3% reduction in reimbursement rates. Although therapies are facing up to a 10% reduction or service cut entirely, even the minimum of 3% creates lasting financial difficulties for small businessess, lowering the availability for providers and increasing administrative burden.
3. In the event of a rate cut, create proper verbiage written into contracts for rate reduction reversals. This protects the small businesses that will be impacted and potentially face closure due to this bill, assuring these rates are not permanent.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue further and provide additional information about how therapy services provide outstanding growth to your district. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

________________
email: ___________________________________________