We want to provide you with an update about where we stand with the federal administration massively cutting Medicaid and threatening to get rid of Telehealth extensions. We are so grateful for the actions that you have taken with us to fight to protect Medicaid and Telehealth but we still have a long road ahead of us.
The bottom line is that we need to keep fighting to protect our support systems and research, which greatly impacts the myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and disability communities.
Medicaid: The Senate will take up the House-passed budget resolution as soon as April so now is the time to keep the pressure on our Senators, and tell them to oppose cuts to Medicaid! Meanwhile, the House is also under pressure to start writing legislation on spending cuts – so we must keep pressure on our House Members, as well!
If the House and Senate eventually pass a financial reconciliation bill that cuts $880 billion from Medicaid over the next 10 years it will have a devastating impact on our country. Read more.
Why this Matters: Nearly 80 million people in the U.S. rely on Medicaid for their health care, including 54 million seniors, children, and disabled people. Many people do not know they are covered by Medicaid as many Medicaid plans go by other names, such as Medi-Cal in California, Health Care in Arkansas or HealthWave in Kansas.
TAKE ACTION: Call your Congressional Members now and tell them not to cut Medicaid in the final budget. Use our easy call script here.
Sharing your own personal story of how Medicaid impacts you or your community is the most impactful! Every Member is important – not just swing districts. The most likely way to kill medicaid cuts will be Members behind the scenes pressuring leadership to pull the cuts.
Telehealth: On Friday, March 14th, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution bill that kept Telehealth extensions for Medicare in place – until Sept. 30th. Congress has basically kicked the can down the road until the Fall.
Take Action: Keep the pressure on our elected officials! If you haven’t already, please call your Congressional Members and tell them to protect Telehealth in the final budget. Use our easy call scripts, here.