Fwd: CHAIN Reaction 2/3/06

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Dear Advocate,

February 3,

2006

STATE ACTION

Medicare Part D Transition Glitches

Continue

Florida Medicaid Reform

Update

KidCare & Healthy Start

Funding

NATIONAL ACTION

U.S. House Passes Budget Cutting Healthcare for

Millions

Quick Medicare Action Needed By

Congress

STATE

ACTION

MEDICARE PART D- FEDERAL

PROMISES AND STATE RELIEF, BUT NOT FOR ALL

The

Medicare Part D transition began with life-threatening

circumstances for poor, elderly, disabled, and chronically ill

people throughout the state and nation. An Executive Order from

Governor Bush has relieved the crisis for many in Florida, but

more must be done immediately to save lives. Read more

CLICK HERE to take

action NOW! Quickly and easily send or edit a prepared

letter to Governor Bush, with copies to your state

legislators and others of influence.

FLORIDA MEDICAID REFORM UPDATE: ADJUSTMENTS

NEEDED

Many issues not fully

addressed prior to passing HB 3 during the December special

session must be revisited now. A policy shift of this magnitude

must have safe-guards for beneficiaries in the pilot program and

comprehensive ongoing evaluation to measure success or

failures. Learn more and

write key legislators.

KIDCARE & HEALTHY START FUNDING

HEADS UP! GOVERNOR'S BUDGET

PROPOSAL CUTS KIDCARE BY $197 MILLION

The $70.8 billion spending plan

unveiled by Gov. Bush on February 1 is another major call to

action for Florida healthcare advocates.

The budget’s proposed healthcare cuts include a $197

million reduction to KidCare, which provides medical insurance

for children in working families that cannot afford private

health insurance and earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Read

more and write your

legislators.

KIDCARE

& HEALTHY START ACTION NEEDED!

Senator Rich and Rep. Vana have introduced

legislation to cover children from families with incomes above

200% of the federal poverty level. The legislation would also

restore and fund measures to reach the Legislature's KidCare

enrollment goal and reach more hard to enroll eligible children.

Florida's Healthy Start Coalitions must receive

increased funds to serve an additional 28,000 eligible at-risk

pregnant women, to reverse the state's new upward

trends in infant mortality and low birth weight babies. Read more and write

your legislators about these issues.

NATIONAL

ACTION

U.S. HOUSE APPROVED BUDGET BILL HARMS MILLIONS

THROUGH LOST HEALTH BENEFITS

A blaring call to action was

sounded with the February 1 House of Representatives approval of

the Budget Reconciliation bill. This draconian legislation

includes drastic cuts in Medicaid, causing severe hardship for

millions of our most vulnerable low-income seniors, children,

and people with disabilities. Medicaid recipients will have

significant increases in out-of-pocket expenses they cannot

afford, and even fewer benefits. Many will completely lose

Medicaid coverage. State advocates must gear up to

minimize harm for Floridians who rely on Medicaid. Read

more

Check the roll call

here to find out how your Congressional

representative voted. Reps who voted YES on this draconian

bill MUST hear from you. Make sure to let them know their YES

vote was unconscionable, and that you will hold them accountable

for the harm that will be done. Click here to write

your representative.

CONGRESS MUST MOVE

QUICKLY ON MEDICARE PART D CRISIS

Medicare Informed Choice Act Offers

Partial Fix

The Medicare Informed Choice Act

(MIC), S.1841, was filed on January 26 by Florida Sen. Bill

and Sen. Hillary Clinton. Among other ameliorating

features, this commonsense bill would treat residents in

Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) the same as those in nursing

homes by dropping new co-payments for prescriptions. Problems

caused by these co-pays are well-documented in

Florida.

Very low-income people in

Assisted Living Facilities were recently assigned co-payments of

$3-$5 for each prescription. Many take multiple drugs for

physical and mental illnesses, and these co-pays will use up

most or all of the $54 they receive monthly for personal

care. Read more and write

to Senator ez and your Congressional Representative about

Medicare Part D now!

Florida CHAIN thanks the

many advocates who have taken the time to respond to our recent

Get Active alerts. Your messages do make difference. Look for

increased reporting on state legislation and weekly calls to

action during the Florida session.

Let us hear from you on

the health care issues that are important to you or your

organization.

View

previous issues of CHAIN Reaction in the

archive.

Visit the web address below to invite your friends, family and colleagues to learn about these important issues and TAKE ACTION.

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