#SaveMedicaid: Urgent Action Items
March 20, 2017
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The House of Representatives introduced the American Healthcare Act on March 6, 2017. If passed, this bill will have devastating effects on access to basic healthcare and Medicaid funded services and supports for America's most vulnerable populations: Children, people with disabilities, seniors, and low income Americans. The bill is moving through the House quickly and will reach the Senate soon. Join us to tell Congress that Medicaid cuts and caps are dangerous and unacceptable!
March 20-24: Target Members of Congress in Key States
Members in the following states especially need to hear from you, both as constituents and as concerned citizens! Use social media and the sample messages below to make your voice heard and work to Save Medicaid.
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Alaska @LisaMurkowski @SenDanSullivan |
Nevada @SenDeanHeller @SenCortezMasto |
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Ohio @SenSherrodBrown @RobPortman |
Arkansas @SenTomCotton @JohnBoozman |
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West Virginia @JoeManchinWV @CapotoForWV |
Arizona @SenJohnMcCain @JeffFlake |
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Colorado @CoryGardner @SenBennetCo |
Maine @SenatorCollins @SenAngusKing |
Make It Personal
Tell the personal story of how Medicaid helped your family. Tweet your story of how Medicaid has helped you/your family. Below are some samples to inspire you. Add a selfie with the message! When you put a face to your message, the impact is significantly stronger.
Examples
- Affordable psych meds make it so I can work, keep my job & stay healthy. #SaveMedicaid
- The therapy my son needs to learn to walk would cost my entire salary for a year out of pocket. #SaveMedicaid
- I had cancer & had to leave my job. Medicaid helped me get better & go back to work. #SaveMedicaid
- My niece was born with congenital heart defects. She had her first surgery at a week old. Medicaid saved her. #SaveMedicaid
Keep up the Social Media Work!
Tell Congress ‘Don't Cut My Services,' and ‘We Need Home and Community Based Services!" The #SaveMedicaid hashtag has been trending on twitter, and the numbers and impact are papable. Continue to Tweet and Facebook and call your Member of Congress. The pressure is getting noticed! Use any of the below sample tweets and search #SaveMedicaid on social media to continue the pressure.
Tuesday, March 21, 1-2pm ET
Open Call on Proposed Health Care Cuts and the Disability Community
(12-1pm Central time, 11-12pm Mountain time, 10-11am Pacific time)
Call-in: 1-515-739-1285; Passcode: 521-847#
Speakers: Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania (invited), Amber Smock, Director of Advocacy, Access Living, and Founder of Disability Power for Community Integration (confirmed), Alison Barkoff, Director of Advocacy, Center for Public Representation, and Co-Chair of the LTSS Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) (confirmed), Bill Henning or Shaya French, Boston Center for Independent Living (confirmed)
Wednesday, March 22, 10am
Press Conference with Senators Pelosi and Biden, East Front Capitol Steps
Join the Senators for a press conference on the Capitol steps where they will talk about the proposed AHCA bill and the impact of ACA repeal.
Wednesday, March 22, 11-11:45am
Press Conference with Senator Casey, Senate Lawn
The Senator will speak about the House's AHCA and the proposal to institute per capita caps, tear down the existing Medicaid program, and create a program that will increase waiting lists for home and community based services, cut $880 billion in Medicaid funding over 10 years, and deny people with disabilities the supports they need to have control of their lives. Senators Hassan and Harkin may join. For those in town, please plan to attend.
It is likely that after this press event Senator Casey will go to the floor of the Senate and speak at length about the impact the cuts to the Medicaid programs will have for people with disabilities and their families. Contact your Members of Congress for gallery passes.
Wednesday, March 22, 2pm
HOST YOUR OWN Press Conference
We need to amplify the message of the #SaveMedicaid Press Conference by holding LOCAL press conferences at - or after - 2 PM Eastern Wednesday. Contact Ericka Jones at 585-546-7510 or email at [email protected] with details of your local event. See this ADAPT cheat sheet on how to Hold a Press Conference.
Wednesday, March 22, 5pm (arrive at 430)
Medicaid Matters Press Conference with Senator Cory Booker (NJ): Capitol Complex, Room S120
On Wednesday, March 22nd at 5:00pm EST, a press conference will be held with Senator Cory Booker to highlight the critical coverage Medicaid provides to seniors, children and people with disabilities. This presser will show organizations standing shoulder to shoulder with their membership against efforts to end Medicaid expansion and change the Medicaid funding structure.
Every Day: Call, call, call!
Call your Members of Congress and tell them, "I need you to oppose the American Health Care Act because the caps on Medicaid funding will be extremely damaging to people with disabilities and many others. Please keep Medicaid the way it is!" Use any of the sample tweets below as talking points. Continue to tweet and facebook and email any of the below messages, especially if lines are busy or voicemail is full
Action Steps, Fact Sheets, Talking Points for protecting Medicaid and the ACA
- Action Steps, Fact Sheets, Talking Points for protecting Medicaid and the ACA, from CCD
- Sign up to stay informed, with CCD
- Kaiser Family Foundation Medicaid page
- Families USA Talking Points using the CBO's Score of The American Health Care Act
- Families USA Infographics: (Coverage Will Plummet) (Drastic Cuts) (Tax Breaks)
- CBPP (blog) (talking points) (shareable graphics)
