Gov. Ed Rendell is warning the state’s congressional delegation that the state will face serious budget consequences if Pennsylvania doesn’t get an additional $850 million in federal Medicaid assistance.

He wrote to members of the U.S. Senate and House last week, urging them to approve a six-month extension of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to give Pennsylvania the additional federal stimulus funds for medical aid to low-income people. Other states also would benefit from the extension.

As of now, the stimulus money is due to expire Dec. 31. Mr. Rendell, along with 46 other governors, is trying to get a six-month extension, until June 30, 2011, the end of the state’s fiscal year.

Mr. Rendell has proposed a $29 billion spending package for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1. His budget proposal, which still needs General Assembly approval, counts on receiving the additional $850 million from the feds.

Without it, he warned, there will be a number of negative consequences:

• Eliminating of some state aid to 90 percent of the hospitals in the state, including “the 189 hospitals that care for the most indigent” people and eliminate of payments for uninsured people.

• Cutting 25 percent of the funds that go to all 67 counties for child welfare services, which he said would “leave thousands of children without protection from abuse, as well as cut services for persons with mental retardation and mental health services.” That could affect 162,000 state residents.

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