Friday, June 2, 2017

What's next at the national level with health care reform?

The Colorado Health Policy Coalition shared this on Tuesday:

"While the U.S. Senate is out of session for its Memorial Day recess this week, word is that
they have started drafting their health care bill. No formal timetable for introduction of the bill has been released, but it is rumored that the Senate could have a draft bill to share as early as next week.
Updated CBO Analysis of AHCA
As we shared with you last week, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released an updated analysis of the American Health Care Act, as passed by the House. Here are a few good pieces on the new report:
10 Key Points from the CBO Report on Obamacare Repeal, Politico, May 24
New CBO AHCA Estimate, Health Affairs Blog, May 25
CBO Score Underlines GOP Tensions on Obamacare Repeal, The Hill, May 26
New AHCA CBO Report Changes Very Little, Forbes, May 30"



Have you checked out the resources to get active through the Protect Our Care Colorado campaign (a coalition managed by the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative)? The campaign shared this yesterday:

"The U.S. Senate is negotiating their version of the bill. These backroom negotiations on the future of our health care are being held by a group of conservative and moderate Republican Senators, including Colorado's Senator Cory Gardner.

This means Coloradans have a key role to play in whether this repeal effort continues or what form it takes in the Senate, but because the negotiations are taking place in secret, we don't yet know what the Senate is actually considering. Call Cory Gardner to demand transparency and ask him to protect Colorado’s health care.
Keep Calling our Senators!
Tell them to reject repeal and protect Coloradans with pre-existing conditions!
Senator Gardner -  Denver: (303) 391-5777 DC: (202) 224-594
Senator Bennet - Denver: (303) 455-7600, DC: (202) 224- 5852

Want to do something beside making calls and sending emails?
Consider submitting a letter-to-the-editor to a newspaper in your area. Here's a quick guide you can use.

Updated Messaging on Medicaid cuts in the AHCA:

Rural:
Many healthcare providers -- especially rural hospitals -- will be forced to close as a result of these cuts. These cuts will be a disaster for Colorado’s rural communities and rural Coloradans will have less access to the care they need, when they need it.

Seniors:
Medicaid helps seniors pay for nursing home care and long-term care services in their home that Medicare does not cover. With a quickly growing older population in Colorado, this is important to Colorado’s overall health.

Children and Families:
Children who have Medicaid are more likely to attend school, graduate from high school and attend college than those who are uninsured. Cutting Medicaid will make it harder for children to succeed.

Economic Stability:
Congress wants to pass the buck and shift the costs to states and middle-class working families, all while giving a tax break to the very wealthy. This is not a solution. The costs are still there, and Colorado can’t afford to pick up the tab.

State Flexibility:
Medicaid is very flexible now for Colorado. The program allows our state to make decisions around eligibility, benefits, premiums, and cost-sharing, as well as provider payment. Colorado is efficient and innovative with Medicaid dollars.

Opioid Epidemic:
Medicaid is critical to fighting the opioid epidemic. Gutting Medicaid will disrupt addiction treatment coverage for millions of Americans and hinder states’ ability to fight this crisis.

Market Stability:
Without Medicaid, the private insurance market and Medicare will not work. Medicaid is a critical part of our healthcare system as a whole.

There are other ways to take action today. Please share with your networks and friends:
If you have 2 minutes: 
  • Use Social media to tell our Senators to reject repeal and protect Coloradans with pre-existing conditions!. Tag @SenCoryGardner, @SenBennetCO. 
  • Share this story about Linda and Javi, two people who depend on medicaid: Medicaid gives Linda and Javi hope for the future. Watch their story & tell Congress #HandsOff Medicaid https://youtu.be/WIok-WC3CEE
  • Share Healthier Colorado’s Ad asking Senator Cory Gardner to Protect our Health Care:https://healthiercolorado.org/ahca-ad/
If you have 15 minutes: 
  • Share your story. Stories are powerful and sharing them is making a difference. 
If you have an hour: Show up in person! 
  • Pay your respects to the end of health care: March to tell Cory Gardner his agenda is a death sentence for Colorado http://bit.ly/2rld2h4
  • Organize or Join Actions with Allies PPFA, MoveOn and Indivisible. You can find an event below to join or organize your own. These events are listed on a central website and you can find them here: ResistanceNearMe.org
Join Us: The Protect Our Care Colorado Campaign is growing! Other organizations can join online here."

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