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To: SCIENCE EDITORS

Contact: Lauren Poplawski, for Spectrum Science Communications, +1-202-683-3115, lpoplawski@qorvis.com

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A survey released today bySpectrum Science Communications states that a little known anti-privatizationmeasure in the current farm bill would critically harm New Jersey's ability toeffectively administer its Medicaid and The State Children's Health InsurancePrograms (SCHIP) programs. The measure, offered as an amendment to the House-passed Farm Bill by Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA), would restrict all states from usingnon-profits and other private organizations in the administration of publicassistance programs.

Over 40 million needy children and adults would be affected by thedisruptions in service that would occur if the federal government takes awaystates' ability to partner with private firms and non-profit groups. Amongthose who would be affected are over 14 million enrollees in the Medicaid andSCHIP, 26 million food stamp recipients, and 1.9 million participants in theTemporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

"This provision will severely hamper the administration of hundreds ofsocial services programs in the U.S., affecting 960,000 recipients of Medicaidin New Jersey," said Audrey Spolarich of Spectrum Science Communications.

The Spectrum study found that states such as New Jersey rely on non-government organizations to assist in the administration of many means-testedsocial service programs. The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a non-profit, providesdata collection and enrollment broker services for the state's Medicaid andSCHIP programs and Children's Partnership, another non-profit, assists withthe state's Express Lane Eligibility program.

"As someone who has had to administer these programs to recipients, I cantell you first-hand how adversely impacted state governments will be if thisprovision passes," said former South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges. "In SouthCarolina and other states, important services like Medicaid and Child SupportEnforcement depend on commercial and non-profit support. We can't letWashington play politics with the administration of these vital programs."

All 50 states and the District of Columbia rely on non-profit andcommercial organizations to assist in the process of administering means-tested programs, according to the study. A total of 309 social servicesprograms in the United States are administered by private organizations, 207of which involve private contracts for direct beneficiary services.

The Baca amendment (Section 4015) specifically requires that only stateemployees be involved in any part of the process of administering food stampsto beneficiaries. States will not be able to opt out of this anti-privatization measure, even if outsourced programs have been more cost-effective and resulted in more enrolled beneficiaries in their states.

The provision "would deprive states of needed flexibility, remove asignificant means of innovation, bring to a halt many valuable programs now inplace," said Larry Goolsby Director of Legislative Affairs for the AmericanPublic Human Services Association (APHSA), a nonprofit, bipartisanorganization of state and local human service agencies.

The Baca amendment is not included in the Senate version of the farm bill.The House and Senate must reconcile their versions of the bill before thePresident can sign a measure into law.

About Spectrum Science Communications

Spectrum is the leading health-only communications practice among publicrelations firms in Washington, DC, employing more than 50 staff members, andserving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, patient advocacy, hospital and medicalsociety clients throughout the U.S.

Spectrum Science Communications is committed to achieving the goals ofclients who are involved with issues, products, provider services or researchin life or human health sciences. The agency provides health product marketingpublic relations, health public affairs, strategic Internet communications,and design services. More information can be found at www.spectrumscience.com.

SOURCE Spectrum Science Communications

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