Medicaid and Abortion Rights Need Our Help
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Republican Plan To Punish The Poor
Here is a list of how Republicans want to cut Medicaid
Creating a cap to ensure that states receive a limited amount of federal dollars for each beneficiary; aka a per capita cap
Turning Medicaid into a block grant program
Eliminating the 90% federal match rate for states that have expanded Medicaid
Reducing the regular federal match rate
Cutting back or eliminating state use of taxes on healthcare providers
Instituting work reporting requirements as a condition of eligibility for the program; aka community engagement requirements
These proposals will have a significant detrimental impact on the ability of American families and workers to access comprehensive, affordable healthcare.States are allowed to collect taxes to help fund Medicaid.
Let’s look at two of those ideas. First state level Medicaid taxes. Those taxes are collected at hospitals, from health plans and medical providers. The money goes directly to help pay she state’s share of Medicaid costs. Republicans want to prohibit such taxes so that states have less money to pay for Medicaid and will be forced to disenroll participants. States will lose 10s of billions of dollars. The move will shrink access to health care for some of the nation’s poorest and most vulnerable people, warn analysts and patient advocates.
Second, work requirements. About 95% of people on Medicaid are either working full or part time, are in school, are a caregiver or are disabled. Pretty much everyone who can be working is working. But republicans keep pushing the meme of lazy poor people. (19th - reference)
Arkansas tried work requirements for Medicaid and it failed and was halted. Georgia is in the process of trying it and has spent about $40 million dollars on the program to enroll 5000 people total. 80% of their expenditures were for consulting fees and software. It is theater playing to a crowd that thinks if you are poor you are lazy. T
I can’t understand why it is so important to take away people’s health insurance. Actually I do understand it. It is called medical eugenics. Years ago Adam Schiff explained it to me as he heard it from an angry constituent. If you’re not rich enough or smart enough to afford healthcare then you need to die off.
ACTION
Click here to send a letter to your congressperson and senators telling them NO CUTS to Medicaid.
Abortion Restriction Backfires
Anti Abortion Republican with an Ectopic Pregnancy
Rep. Kat Cammack arrived at the emergency room in May 2024 terrified by what she had just learned: Her pregnancy could kill her at any moment. It would only get worse. The Florida Republican needed a shot of methotrexate to help expel her ectopic pregnancy, in which there is no way for the embryo to survive. Her state’s six-week abortion ban had just taken effect. She said doctors and nurses who saw her said they were worried about losing their licenses or going to jail if they gave her drugs to end her pregnancy.
Cammack looked up the state law on her phone to show staff and even attempted to contact the governor’s office. eventually the the doctors gave her the medicine to save her life.
Abortion rights activists say the law created problems. Florida regulators say ectopic pregnancies are not abortions and are exempt from restrictions, but Molly Duane, with the Center for Reproductive Rights, told the Wall Street Journal the law does not define ectopic pregnancy, which can be difficult to diagnose.
Alison Haddock, the president of the American College of Emergency Physicians, told the outlet care in early pregnancy is a “medically complicated space” and that doctors in abortion-restricted states worry “whether their clinical judgment will stand should there be any prosecution”. (Guardian)
Of course, not every women with a failing pregnancy can call the governor for help. Some die because doctors are afraid of losing their licenses or even being subject to criminal prosecution.
Ocherav. If you know what that means great if not you can shoot me a comment.
Extra Credit Action
Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act and restore a woman’s right to choose everywhere.
Call your elected reps and tell them. You can reach them here, https://fiscalnote.com/find-your-legislator.
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Organizations to Contact
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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
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Library of Advice, Specific Advice
Claims Denied
We can use the tool here to protest.
My daughter had an ectopic pregnancy. She was to pick me up from work but came early in terrible pain (she had tested positive for pregnancy some weeks before. I said that kind of pain isn't normal, she needed to go to emergency right then. She saw a doctor right away who did an ultrasound of her uterus. I was watching and their was no visible fetus in her uterus. I remember remarking, that's not good. She was at the point where it could burst at any moment. She was taken right to surgery and they removed the tube containing the fetus. I shudder to think what would have happened if we were in a red state today with all their restrictions. I probably wouldn't have my daughter or my other grandson who was born in spite of her only having one functioning fallopian tube. The hypocrisy is that abortion is always available to the wealthy. They just don't want the poor or middle class to have access.
You are so right! And it could get worse. This make believe philosophy of embryo personhood and it's being equal to women's rights (and worse case scenarios, little girls) reduces us to incubators. And I'm sure they would condemn the idea of test tube babies (you know like incubating chicks) leaving women with no alternative. If the State was being even a little fair it would at least heavily tax Viagra, encourage vasectomies, and pay for tying a woman's tubes, if she so desired. But that's the whole idea isn't it? To take away choice.