States Rights - Means Rights Lost
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Happy Wednesday Healthcare Advocates
I would like to encourage comments and suggestions from you if you have time. If there is a special topic you’d like to see please let me know. Please use the comment button below.
Hospital Charity Care
A few days ago we wrote about hospitals neglecting to tell patients the they were eligible for financial assistance and then suing them for payment (charming). Recall also that Washington State has a law, requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, that requires hospitals to offer financial assistance if your income is at 400% of the federal poverty limit or below.
According to Modern Healthcare, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill in July that looks to increase access to free or discounted healthcare by requiring hospitals to proactively screen patients and streamline the signup process. The law represents a growing effort among states to bolster accountability and increase scrutiny of nonprofit hospitals’ charity care contributions.
You know what the real answer is. Of course you do. Universal Healthcare.
Extra Credit
When people do the right thing we should thank them. Let’s send messages to Bob Ferguson of Washington, and Governor Tina Kotek of Oregon and thank them for taking steps to make sure hospitals offer financial assistance to those that cannot afford it.
Here are their contact locations
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek
w.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/share-your-opinion.aspx
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson
https://fortress.wa.gov/atg/formhandler/ago/ContactForm.aspx
Something like this -
Subject: Make Hospitals Offer Financial Assistance
I just read that you have helped make sure that hospitals offer financial assistance to the poor in your state. Thanks for taking active steps to care about others. Well done.
Reproductive Care
Recall that Texas has a near total abortion ban. Recall also that several women who suffered because they could not get the abortion they needed when it became a medical necessity have sued the state of Texas (link to story)
Texas's Republican Governor Greg Abbott addressed a rally earlier this year, celebrating the abortion bans that took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. ... So it may be surprising that just a few weeks ago, Abbott signed a law giving doctors leeway to provide abortions in Texas when a patient's water breaks too early and for ectopic pregnancies. There was considerably less fanfare for that signing. (link)
ACTION
Little steps in individual states is not the answer. When states control rights people are oppressed. That is what states rights is all about. We need the federal government to get in gear and act like they are there to protect the people who sent them to Washington D.C. It is high time to restore women’s rights in this country. Enact the Women’s Health Protection Act.
Call or email your Congressional Representative and your Senators and the President and tell them to enact the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore women’s reproductive rights. Their contact info is below in the resources section.
You can use your cell phone and RESISTBOT to send the email below. Just text to 50409 SIGN PCBWKR.
“I am your constituent and it is high time for the federal government to take back their authority and protect all the women in this country. I want you to enact the Women’s Health Protection Act NOW. Establish the federal right to reproductive care for every woman and girl in our country. Do it now. I will be watching.”
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
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare
Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All
Physicians for a National Health Plan
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
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
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