Health Insurance and DACA & Abortion News
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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Cancer Moonshot
The Biden administration is set to announce $150 million in new funding through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to speed the development of technologies aimed at improving tumor-removal surgeries for cancer patients.
The awards will be announced at an event in New Orleans spotlighting the administration’s reignited Cancer Moonshot initiative, which aims to cut the death rate from the disease in the United States in half by 2047. The funding will go to researchers from eight teams across the country participating in the agency’s Precision Surgical Intervention program.
Health Insurance and DACA
A group of 15 Republican state attorneys general are suing the Biden administration over its plan to extend Affordable Care Act coverage to children of undocumented immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Here are the states involved, The State of KANSAS, the State of NORTH DAKOTA, the State of ALABAMA, the State of IDAHO, the State of INDIANA, the State of IOWA, the State of MISSOURI, the State of MONTANA, the State of NEBRASKA, the State of NEW HAMPSHIRE, the State of OHIO, the State of SOUTH CAROLINA, the State of SOUTH DAKOTA, the State of TENNESSEE, and the Commonwealth of VIRGINIA,
Extra Credit Action
If you live in any of the states that are suing the US government for opening the Affordable Care Act to those children brought illegally here as minors, you can write or call your state’s attorney general (find them here) and let them know you you think. Here is a sample:
“I am a resident of [state] and I want you to know I am ashamed of your cruel suit against the US government for opening up Affordable Care Act Insurance to DACA recipients. Your lack of concern for others is matched only for your disregard for public health. Rest assured your actions will be remembered at the next election.”
Abortion News
Two women have filed complaints with the federal government alleging that Texas hospitals denied them abortion care necessary to treat their ectopic pregnancies. The complaints were filed August 6 by Kelsie Norris-De La Cruz and Kyleigh Thurman against Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital and Round Rock-based Ascension Seton Williamson Hospital, respectively. Both women are represented by the Center for Reproductive Rights. (19th News)
Both say the hospitals denied them appropriate stabilizing medical care, which hospitals that accept federal Medicare funding are required to do under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, also known as EMTALA.
Ectopic pregnancies, which happen when a fertilized egg implants outside the pregnant person’s uterus, can be fatal to them and cannot result in birth. Both women had ectopic pregnancies that implanted in their fallopian tubes, which connect ovaries to the uterus.
The women say that they were initially sent home without receiving appropriate care, which in this case should have been terminating the pregnancy.
Doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide appropriate medical care because they can be sent to jail/sued. In theory, Texas law, which bans almost all abortions, allows termination for patients with ectopic pregnancies. But the physicians still have to prove in court that any abortion they provide is protected by law. As a result, doctors in the state have said offering abortions still carries immense legal risks, even for ectopic pregnancies.
End this nightmare. Let’s remind out elected reps that in over half the states in our country women are not full citizens and that passing the Women’s Health Protection Act is a step forward.
ACTION
Let’s call/email our Senators and Member of Congress and tell them to do what it takes to get the Women’s Health Protection Act passed. It is S. 701/ H.R. 12. You can find their contact info here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.
Or use RESISTBOT via [Apple Messages / WHATSAPP / MESSENGER] or by texting SIGN PZGSMU to 50409 on your cell phone to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I want you to know about 2 women in Texas who had ectopic pregnancies and were denied abortions at their local hospitals. Both lost a fallopian tube because the doctors and hospitals were scared to provide the emergency abortions these women needed.
YOU CAN FIX THIS NIGHTMARE FOR OTHER WOMEN. I want you to do what ever you can to get the Women’s Health Protection Act (S. 701/H.R. 12) to a vote. Think of discharge petitions, attaching it to must pass bills, whatever. Women are not second class citizens yet 21 states treat them that way. I’m counting on you to have the courage and stand up for all the women in this country.
Here is a link to the news story about the women denied abortions. https://19thnews.org/2024/08/texas-hospitals-women-ectopic-pregnancies-emtala/ .”
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Program
One Payer States
Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
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
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision
Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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