Push Back Against Cuts to Healthcare and Science
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Republican’s Cruel Budget Cuts
Medicare Cuts
Senate Republicans are eyeing possible Medicare provisions to help offset the cost of their mega-bill as they try to appease budget hawks who want more spending cuts embedded in the legislation. (Politico)
At least one senator met with Trump and thinks he would approve cutting Medicare if it were framed as getting rid of waste fraud and abuse. I know where to find waste fraud and abuse - it is the $155 million that Trump buzzard spent of our tax money to play golf since Jan 20, 2025. That’s what it cost.
Food Cuts
Senate leadership, if you can call it that, is pushing the Agriculture Committee to net $150 billion in cuts as they work to scale down a controversial House plan to shift billions in food aid costs to states, according to four Republicans with direct knowledge of the matter. That’s half of the $300 billion in agriculture cuts from the House bill — and GOP senators are still trying to fit in a $70 billion farm bill package. (Politico)
Medicaid Cuts
They are planning to push costs to the states and force work requirements. We have previously documented that those have been demonstrated failures and will actually force people to lose health insurance. Everyone that can work is working. The problem is that low paying jobs don’t come with health insurance.
Republicans also want to cancel states’ ability implement taxes specifically to help pay their share of Medicaid costs - every state has those - and it is usually collected by providers and hospitals. Forcing a bigger share of the cost to states will force them to reduce Medicaid enrollment. We have documented that about 20 million who have Medicaid because they make 1.38 x the federal poverty limit - will lose their insurance in 40 states that expanded Medicaid
Affordable Care Act Cuts - Repeal and Replace
Many people who have ACA health insurance either from the federal or state websites, make more than the maximum to get Medicaid, but still can’t afford $1000/month/enrollee per year. Could you?
The federal government offers subsidies to help pay those premiums. Republicans are now considering getting rid of the subsidies or making it incredibly hard to get them. Currently, if you have an ACA plan and subsidy you automatically renew each year. Republicans want to stop that and make you reapply for subsidies every year. You will have to document your citizenship, your employment, prove how many people live with you, etc, etc, etc. You will have to scan and upload a shoe box full of documentation and then wait “who knows how long” to have your application approved. If you have a serious chronic condition you could easily lapse into no coverage.
Summary
Each of the medical problems outlined above, Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA, can all be fixed with universal health care, like H.R. 3069/ S. 1506.
Let’s let our members of Congress and Senators know that we want them to fix healthcare not deny it.
ACTION
Let’s let our members of Congress and Senators know that these budget cuts are harmful and will result in hunger and significant loss of access to healthcare, deaths will follow.
You can call them, if your more comfortable with that, their contact info is here, https://fiscalnote.com/find-your-legislator or
Text SIGN PPCVOD to 50409, or to @Resistbot on Apple Messages, Messenger, Instagram, or Telegram to send this message :
“I am your constituent and I want you to know that as you consider the budget for our country going forward I strongly urge you to not cut nutrition assistance, 42 million of us can’t afford to buy food - that includes children.
20 million of us are at risk of losing our Medicaid health insurance with work requirements and elimination of Medicaid expansion and the state taxes on healthcare that help pay for Medicaid. Do not cut Medicaid.
Do not cut Medicare. 65 million of us have Medicare for our health insurance and we paid for it every day we worked.
If you want to save money implement universal healthcare like H.R. 3069/ S. 1506. That saves $400 billion in wasteful overhead every year according to the Congressional Budget Office.
I want you to have some compassion for the poor, low income Americans, and seniors in your district and not vote for these cruel cuts. We elected you to help us not hurt us. I promise you I will watch your actions and votes and I will act accordingly.”
Science Under Attack - Push Back
A few days ago we published the list of 2900 National Institute of Health Programs that were cut because they addressed women’s health, racial or ethnic health issues and accessibility to health. The VA is now demanding internal review before employees can publish research. This is the politicization of science and it is a form of censorship. Science should inform policy, not the other way around.
H.R. 1106 was re-introduced back in February with the goal of protecting science from politics.
Let’s tell Congress to enact it.
ACTION
The Union of Concerned Scientists has created a click to send email for us. Click here to send that email to our elected reps and tell them to enact HR 1106, Scientific Integrity Act.
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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
CDC Childhood Vaccination Schedules
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
Library of Advice, Specific Advice
Claims Denied
We can use the tool here to protest.
Can you give a shout out to SB 951.
Governor Kotek of Oregon just signed it yesterday. MSO (and private equity)will have a harder time making medical decisions!