Congress Holding Healthcare Hostage
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Happy Tuesday Advocates
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Government Shutdown on the Horizon
I am always appalled that some politicians think it is ok to close the government and stop funding major programs. This game of chicken with lives in the balance is beyond cruel and demonstrates no empathy or sense of responsibility to we the people. Axios recently reported on this shameful situation.
Some of the programs at risk are WIC (Women, Infants, Children) a nutrition program for low income families, SNAP - food stamps, Head Start, public education, and food safety to name a few. There are also healthcare programs that will sunset at the end. of September and those are:
Community Health Centers
The Community Health Center Fund that provides about 70% of federal funding for health centers is due to expire Sept. 30. These are 1400 organizations providing healthcare to 30 million of us.
Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) Payments
These payments help make up some for some of the uncompensated care that hospitals provide (BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS INSURANCE). America's Essential Hospitals warned in a letter to Congress late last week of an $8 billion cut that would begin Oct. 1.
Of course, with Universal Healthcare this would be covered.
Pandemic Preparedness
Reauthorization of the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act has been held up by partisan disagreements in the House.
PEPFAR Reauthorization
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, invests in the global HIV/AIDS response but is now embroiled in battles around abortion that are playing out in the House. Somehow Republicans think that this program provides abortions. DOES NOT. But anything to stand in the way I suppose. PS this program was started by a Republican president whose name rhymes with Bush.
Opioid funding
A range of programs aimed at fighting the opioid epidemic that Congress passed in 2018 are up for reauthorization.
This is not acceptable. We sent them there to govern, not to withhold, food, medicine, and healthcare from those that need it most. This is a level of cruelty that I find difficult to imagine. I don’t know how they can live with themselves.
ACTION
Let’s let our Congressional Representative and Senators know we need them to be courageous and stand up for us. Here is a RESISTBOT letter you can send to them by texting SIGN PFCSSJ to 50409 (Thank you to Jessica Cravens, Chop Wood, Carry Water). You can also call or email them. Their contact info is here.
I am your constituent and I understand that House Republicans proposed a Continuing Resolution that calls for 8% cuts to the entire federal budget, except for defense spending. They want to cut SNAP (food stamps), Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition support for low income families, Head Start, and Public Education.
As if that weren’t enough, there are critical medical programs that will stop. These include funding community health centers that provide healthcare to 30 million Americans, Disproportionate Share Hospital payments to help offset the uncompensated services provided to the uninsured, PEPFAR (HIV/AIDS support world wide), and Opioid Funding to help with the addiction crisis in our country.
That’s outrageous. Republicans and Democrats made an agreement on spending levels back in May. They need to abide by that agreement and pass a budget now. Leave our programs alone, no cuts.
RESOURCES
Healthcare Advocacy (Us)
Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Find My Elected Officials
Contact the White House https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact State and Federal Representatives
https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Plan
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. NARAL’s abortion resource
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Well said, Alan! I hope the Democrats pull together some powerful messaging on this. It’s exactly the kind of situation where they can draw a contrast between themselves and the power mad MAGA cult.