Julie Beckett, who fought for change in Medicaid system, dies

CEDAR RAPIDS — More than 40 years ago, Julianne “Julie” Beckett fought to bring her daughter home.

The Cedar Rapids resident advocated to remove red tape that prevented her for caring for her disabled daughter at home, eventually bringing her case to Congress and the White House.

Policymakers and disability rights advocates say Beckett was instrumental in bringing fundamental changes to the federal Medicaid program that ultimately improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of families nationwide. She become a lifelong advocate for improving health care for children with disabilities and boosting support for families caring for loved ones with complex medical needs.

Beckett died Friday, May 13, in her Cedar Rapids home. She was 72.

Beckett’s daughter, Katie Beckett, was born in 1978 and contracted viral encephalitis — a serious infection that causes inflammation of the brain — when she was 6 months old. The infection resulted in a paralyzed diaphragm, significantly affecting her ability to breathe on her own. A tracheotomy tube was placed in her throat and she used a ventilator to help her breathe for the rest of her life.

Katie spent the next three and a half years in the hospital.

Medicaid took over coverage of Katie’s care after her parents’ insurance hit the $1 million benefit limit for coverage. At the time, the Medicaid program supported only hospital-based care, meaning Katie’s care would not be covered if she were discharged home.

Beckett began advocating for the ability to care for her daughter at home. In 1981, she contacted former U.S. Rep. Thomas Tauke, a Republican who at the time was representing Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

Katie’s hospital care was about $12,000 per month, but costs would drop to about $2,000 per month if her parents were allowed to care for her at home with the help of home health nurses.

“It was one of those situation where the rules of government didn’t meet the needs of the family,” Tauke told The Gazette this week.

He continued, “Julie was a very positive person. She obviously faced a lot of frustration with the situation, but she did not let that frustration deter her.”

Tauke brought the family’s story to Vice President George H.W. Bush, who brought the matter to President Ronald Reagan. In a news conference Nov. 10, 1981, Reagan cited Katie’s case as an example of “hidebound regulation.”

The Katie Beckett Waiver was created shortly after, establishing a program that allowed individuals with disabilities to use Medicaid dollars to get health care while living at home or in the community.

Beckett’s efforts resulted in a fundamental shift in the federal program. The Katie Beckett waiver became the foundation for Medicaid community-based supports nationwide, which has gone on to improve the quality of life of hundreds of thousands of children with complex medical needs nationwide.

“She didn’t know that she was going to tip history the way that it did,” said Delaine Petersen, a fellow advocate and friend of Beckett’s since the 1980s. “Her first and foremost goal was to get that child home, but she talked to the right people and people listened to her.”

Katie went home on Dec. 18, 1981. She went on to graduate from Mount Mercy University in 2001 and lived independently in Cedar Rapids.

“Julie worked so hard to help Katie be as successful as she possibly could be,” Petersen said.

Wednesday marked 10 years since Katie Beckett died. She was 34.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Beckett continued to work with policymakers in Washington to develop programs to improve health care and remove barriers for children with complex needs. She was a driving force behind legislation like the Family Opportunity Act, and pushed federal leaders to embrace a family-centric model that better acknowledged family members’ roles in care.

In 1992, she founded Family Voices, a national nonprofit organization that brought together families of children with disabilities who were advocating for health care reform.

Among her many accomplishments, she helped the organization establish Family-to Family Health Information Centers, federally funded resources that now exists in all states and in five territories.

Family Voices Executive Director Nora Wells said Beckett retired from the board of directors last year after nearly 30 years.

"She was a person that wanted to fix things,“ Wells said. ”If there was a problem she thought she could contribute to, she was on board. She thought bigger than her own family, and wanted to improve systems and make things better for people.“

In a statement on Beckett’s death, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said the country “lost a passionate advocate for children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities.”

“While Julie would often say she was `’Katie Beckett's mom,'’ we also knew her as a passionate advocate and servant leader,” Grassley wrote. “Julie's lifelong pursuit to improve the lives of children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities made an impact for the better for her community, state and nation.”

The Iowa Department of Human Services also issued a statement noting the loss of “a pioneering advocate and champion for children.”

“Julie dedicated her life to championing the cause of children with complex medical needs. While we mourn her passing, we also celebrate the life of an Iowan whose work touched the lives of countless children and families across the United States. Julie will be deeply missed,” state officials said.

Beckett was working to improve the lives of Iowans and others across the country up until her final days. Petersen said they had planned a trip to Washington next month to meet with Grassley and other elected officials to discuss their concerns about current wait times for Medicaid members to receive services.

“She never, ever stopped being an advocate,” Petersen said. “You don’t have to be rich, loud or famous to make a difference. I think Julie would say, ‘I was just a mom and I did the right thing.’”

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