Never Too Late To Say Sorry
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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Elections and Healthcare
Teammates - I found a good in-depth summary of how the Biden and Trump administrations compare with respect to healthcare. It was published this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
There are lots of familiar details - Biden wants to expand ACA, Trump wants to get rid of it, Biden supports reproductive rights, Trump is proud of cancelling them.
Since the first presidential debate is this week and I am pretty sure that there will be no in depth discussion of healthcare policies, I place this article for your consideration.
Make no mistake - our votes and our voices matter. Let’s be sure that we exercise both.
Never Too Late to Say Sorry
My wife and I were in Rotterdam not too long ago. People there still remember the Nazi bombardment and its devastation. There is a megaphone in glass and plaque in the sidewalk at the old Nazi bombed post office that reads “ It Is Never Too Late To Say Sorry”
The photo at the top of the newsletter is that memorial.
I mention this because that is what the Biden Administration is doing today to members of the military that were mistreated for their LGBTQ status.
President Biden will move today to pardon LGBTQ military service members who were discharged or prosecuted because of their sexual orientation, providing a path for them to clear their records and apply for veterans benefits. Administration officials said yesterday evening that they didn’t know exactly how many former service members would be affected by the order, which creates a process for veterans to apply for a pardon, but they estimate the number is in the thousands. (WSJ)
Staffing Levels in Nursing Homes
We have talked about safe staffing levels in hospitals and nursing homes over and over again. When facilities decide to increase profits by cutting staff, it is the patients who suffer. Nursing home deaths rise by 10% in a year when private equity takes over. He is a link to that study by Chicago Booth and the University of Pennsylvania.
The government has recommended safer staffing levels this past April for nursing homes. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported on it. This kind of measure can save lives.
Today it was reported that The American Hospital Association is throwing its clout behind a push to overturn the regulation that established minimum staffing levels for nursing homes. On Monday, the AHA sent a letter to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) endorsing his plan to subject the rule to a congressional vote that would void it.
Let’s take Action and try to save lives. We can contact our Senators a and ask that they NOT SUPPORT OR VOTE FOR Sen. Lankford’s plan to subject the Nursing Home Staffing Rule to a congressional vote. You can read it here. It is Senate Joint Resolution 91.
ACTION
Let’s call/email our Senators and tell them that a vote for Senate Joint Resolution 91 is a vote that will kill more people in nursing homes. We need more staffing not less. Our Senator’s email/phone is here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials.
Or use RESISTBOT on your cell phone and text SIGN PZMICZ to 50409 to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I am grateful that the Biden administration has finally put rules in place to have safe staffing levels at nursing homes. Recent studies have shown that when private equity takes over a nursing home staffing levels decline and the death rate goes up by 10%. Here is Chicago Booth and University of Pennsylvania report for your reference.. https://www.chicagobooth.edu/review/when-private-equity-takes-over-nursing-homes-mortality-rates-jump
Now I want you to know that Senator Lankford has introduced Senate Joint Senate Joint Resolution 91, whose goal is to remove the HHS ruling on safe staffing levels in nursing homes. This is pandering to those that seek to increase their bottom line by allowing more people to die before their time. THAT IS NOT WHO WE SHOULD BE. I want you to vote NO on SJR 91. PS Here is a link to the resolution for your reference. Thank you.
Resources
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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