Follow Up On "Too Sick Too Work"
A Call to Action
A couple days ago, I wrote about my struggles with finding health insurance and access to healthcare due to my congenital heart defect qualifying as a “pre-existing condition.” In that post, I wrote about how the ACA helped to do away with that stigma which prevented people from purchasing health insurance, and I explained that Medicaid expansion has helped numerous people acquire access to healthcare.
In that same post, I mentioned that the reconciliation bill currently before U.S. Congress contains language that threatens to cut Medicaid by $2.3 Trillion (with a “T”) which is approximately one third of the total Medicaid budget. Such cuts would be catastrophic to millions of Americans. In that same newsletter, I urged readers to reach out to their congressional representatives and ask them to vote against such measures.
Today, I have copied and pasted below the letter I wrote if you want to use the same language. You will also see the link to search for your representative by zip code. This should be a quick search followed by a copy/paste if you wish to take action to help preserve healthcare not just for the least privileged among us, but for all Americans.
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Sample Language for Letter to Protect Medicaid
Dear (Name) I am writing to you about the reconciliation bill currently before Congress. In that bill there are provisions to make cuts to Medicaid totaling $2.3 trillion total with the vast majority of savings (86%) coming from imposing a per capita cap, reducing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion match rate, and lowering the match rate (FMAP) floor from the current 50% level. Policies to limit the use of provider taxes, impose work requirements, change the match rate for DC, and repeal the incentive for states to newly adopt the Medicaid expansion that was passed in the American Rescue Plan Act account for the remaining savings. These policy changes would fundamentally change how Medicaid financing works. Cuts of this magnitude would put states at financial risk, forcing them to raise new revenues or reduce Medicaid spending by eliminating coverage for some people, covering fewer services, and (or) cutting rates paid to physicians, hospitals, and nursing homes. This would not only hurt Americans dependent on Medicaid, but also users of the ACA, and those who don't rely on either program. If those two sources of funding for health care dry up, doctors and hospitals will be forced to scale back, close locations, and limit their offerings. This will lead to a reduction in healthcare availability and quality for all Americans. Such sweeping cuts to Medicaid will hurt every American, not just those directly dependent on the program. I am urging you to vote "NO" on any bill that includes such cuts. Sincerely, (Your Name)
Of course, it is entirely up to you if you wish to take action, but I urge you to take a moment and send a message to your rep - using this language or your original text - and let them know that hurting the sickest among us hurts all of us.
Thank you so much for reading. Please share with those who might also take action.
Dawn