Copied and Pasted from the Email AHRC sent me.

We need your help to save Medicaid for the nation’s most vulnerable people, including people with disabilities!

Families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), it is important to tell your legislators that Medicaid Matters to you!

Washington Watch is a NYSARC, Inc. publication regarding important developments on a federal level, as they happen.

July 17, 2017

The Revised Senate Bill Still Includes Devastating Medicaid Cuts

The Senate released their revised Better Care Reconciliation Act last week, but it still includes devastating Medicaid cuts that would have profoundly negative consequences for the Medicaid program and services for people with developmental disabilities. The per capita caps, meager growth rates, and insufficient “carve out for blind and disabled children” remain the same.

The updated CBO score has not yet been released, but it is expected to be about the same. Therefore, this revised health care bill will likely still result in $772 billion in Medicaid cuts, 15 million people losing Medicaid coverage, and a 35% reduction in Medicaid by 2036.

Senate Majority Leader McConnell delayed the vote, originally slated for this week, because Senator McCain is recovering from surgery and unable to vote. Since two Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky — have already said they will vote no on the health care bill, McConnell could not risk going forward without McCain. While New York’s Senators are firm no votes, the Senators from the following states are pivotal: Nevada, West Virginia, Alaska, Louisiana, and Ohio.

Join The Arc’s Emergency Letter Writing Campaign

Even though New York’s Senators are no votes, The Arc is asking every state to have as many people as possible send a brief email about how Medicaid Matters to Me to Nicole Jorwic at jorwic@thearc.org. Please include a photo or video in your email and put your state (ie New York) in the subject line. The Arc will hand deliver all the printed messages to the respective Senators this week. All emails must be received by midnight on Wednesday, July 19 to be hand delivered.

Contact House Republicans This Week

If the bill passes the Senate, it will go back to the House for a vote. If you haven’t already done so, please your House Republican Representative and say:

My name is _____________. I am the parent/relative/friend of a person with developmental disabilities. I am calling to ask you to oppose any legislation that would cut or cap Medicaid. Medicaid funds 90% of essential services for people with developmental disabilities. Medicaid cuts or caps would seriously endanger this population.

Here are the New York Representative phone numbers:

Chris Collins 202-225-5265
John Faso 202-225-5614
Peter T. King 202-225-7896
Tom Reed 202-225-3161
Elise Stefanik 202-225-4611
Claudia Tenney 202-225-3665
Lee Zeldin 202-225-3826

To find the contact information for your US Representative, type in your zip code here. Ask your friends and relatives to make these calls too!

Posting on Social Media Works

In addition to calling House Republicans, voice your opposition on social media using the following hashtags: #VoteNo, #SaveMedicaid, and #NoCutsNoCaps and tweet these legislators directly by clicking on the following links and pressing the button labeled “Tweet to (name of legislator).” Here is a list of some key NY House Republicans who are at risk of supporting the bill if they do not hear enough from their constituents:

Thank you for your continued advocacy!

Contact Person:

Ben Golden, Associate Executive Director for Governmental Affairs, NYSARC, Inc.

See what’s happening on our social sites

AHRC New York City, Department of Public Information, 83 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038

This post pertains to my Followers/Subscribers in the USA.

Today July 12 for a National Disability Community Call-In Day to urge Senators to oppose the ACA repeal bill. The Senate is planning to vote NEXT WEEK — and with a bill this dangerous, we can’t let up until there’s no chance of it passing. That’s why we’re asking you to join this call-in day – to intensify our collective voices and tell the Senate to defend our right to health care.

I made my calls. Are you making yours? I called for my brother Stephen Palmer who does not have conversational speech. Stephen cannot speak for himself so I called for him.

I made Two (2) calls to Senator Chuck Schumer. Called Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries , & Rep. Yvette Clarke.

I’m Calling for Stephen. Who are you calling for?

Medicaid and SSI are what pay for Stephen to be in his Group Home Residence and to receive health care. Obviously I cannot pay for his health care when I’m barely able to take care of myself. Americans Stand Up for those with Disabilities. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves!!

Below is a Copy and Paste from the Email ASAN sent me. For those of you in the USA please use your Zip Code to find the Congresspersons, Senators and Representatives for your District. Thank you.

I’m Calling for Stephen. Who are you calling for?

ALSO NO MORE BUDGET CUTS TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY/INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS!!

Asan

Join ASAN, July 12 for a National Disability Community Call-In Day to urge Senators to oppose the ACA repeal bill. The Senate is planning to vote NEXT WEEK — and with a bill this dangerous, we can’t let up until there’s no chance of it passing. That’s why we’re asking you to join this call-in day – to intensify our collective voices and tell the Senate to defend our right to health care.

Why call?

A single day when we all converge on the Senate’s telephone lines will show them just how big, determined, and relentless our community is. The disability community has a long history of organizing and fighting for our rights – and we need to show the Senate that we won’t stop.

Since postponing the vote, some Senators who’ve pledged to vote “yes” are using the extra time to try to bring more of the “no” votes over to their side. With all that backroom negotiating going on, we have to make sure our Senators know that no deal is good enough to justify taking our health care away.

Senators who oppose the bill need to hear from their constituents that they’re doing the right thing. Some Senators have pledged to vote “no” on the repeal bill, and that’s great! We need them to stand firm and keep working to convince their colleagues to oppose the bill.

How can I join?

Look up your Senators’ phone numbers by entering your ZIP code at contactingcongress.org. When you call, you’ll be speaking to one of the Senator’s staffers, not the Senator themselves.

If you want to call, but don’t want to talk to a staffer on the phone, you can call after work hours and leave a message on the answering machine. Your message will still be counted.

If you don’t speak, you can call using your AAC device, or get a friend to call in and read your message.

However you do it, we need your calls during tomorrow’s national call-in day.

Here’s a script you can use:

My name is [your full name]. I’m a constituent of Senator [Name], and I live in [your town]. I’m calling to ask the Senator to vote NO on repealing the Affordable Care Act. This bill would take health insurance away from 22 million Americans, and destroy Medicaid as we know it. Disabled people in our state would lose access to lifesaving health care and be forced into institutions – all to fund a massive tax break for the wealthiest Americans. People with disabilities like [me/ my family member/ my friends] are not disposable, and our Medicaid is not your trust fund. Please vote AGAINST repealing the Affordable Care Act. We’re counting on you to do the right thing.

Tomorrow’s national call-in will be thousands of voices with one message: Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege afforded only to a select few. Every single person that calls tomorrow will help amplify our message and make sure that the Senate hears us. We hope you’ll join us.

P.S. – Need help understanding what the ACA repeal does? You can read about how it would change the ACA and Medicaid in our plain-language toolkits.

PO Box 66122, Washington, DC 20035

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