Fwd: Protect Medicaid from federal budget cuts!

[Guest guest]

FYI, please try to call today!

Regards,

Ven Sequenzia

President

Autism Society of America

State of Florida Chapter

Protect Medicaid from federal budget cuts!

July 12, 2011

Medicaid is threatened in federal budget talks. Here’s what you can do…

How big is the federal threat to Medicaid? The budget proposal already passed by the U.S. House would cut federal Medicaid funding to Florida by 44% by 2021. Even the President’s own plan for reducing the federal deficit calls for $100 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.

Tell your Senators TODAY: Medicaid Matters!

Today, July 12th, hundreds of community, labor and faith leaders, doctors, nurses, and home healthcare workers will be led by Senators Menendez, Rockefeller, and Mikulski on Capitol Hill to stand up for the millions of seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families who depend on Medicaid. You can join them in speaking out in today’s national call to action.

Call Senator Marco Rubio () and Senator Bill () and tell them Medicaid matters! Make today, July 12th a day for national unity to protect Medicaid.

Proof that Medicaid Matters

A landmark research study led by Harvard and MIT economists analyzed a unique “Medicaid lottery†experiment. Uninsured Oregon residents were randomly divided into two groups: One group received Medicaid coverage, the other remained uninsured. Medicaid recipients received more care, felt better, and maintained their financial security better than those without coverage. Read more in the Kaiser Health News Blog.

While Washington debates federal proposals to cut Medicaid, Florida moves ahead with its own ill-advised plan to slash Medicaid spending…

In Florida Medicaid: Already Cut to the Bone… And Now Facing Threat of Compound Fracture, the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy examines what a combined federal cut and statewide expansion of Medicaid privatization would do to Florida’s health care system.

Medicaid matters to seniors in Florida, but the new Medicaid law pending federal approval would swiftly move seniors in long-term care into private HMO plans. Florida CHAIN Board Members, Dr. Elsie Crowell and Twyla Sketchley, P.A., write about this misguided plan: The Case against Florida's Proposed Managed Long-Term Care Experiment.

Last month, Floridians spoke loud and clear at Medicaid meetings opposing the State’s plan to expand Medicaid Reform privatization statewide. Your action is still needed:

For Organizations: Sign on to this letter to CMS with other Florida organizations opposing expansion of Medicaid Reform. Write to lisag@... with your organization’s name as it should appear on the letter.

For Individuals: Send an easy message to CMS voicing your concerns about expanding Medicaid Reform statewide and privatizing care for millions of Florida’s children, disabled, and seniors. CMS will reply informing you they are waiting for the State to submit an application. It is important they hear from Floridians now.

In 2014, Medicaid will play a crucial role in expanding coverage through the Affordable Care Act along with health insurance exchanges, in which health plans will offer coverage with no possibility of denial due to pre-existing health conditions.

Until then, the ACA’s temporary solution is the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). Real coverage is available for uninsured Floridians with pre-existing conditions through PCIP.

Even better news: PCIP rates were just lowered in Florida by 40%. For example, standard PCIP coverage for a 50 year-old is now $270 per month. Visit PCIP.gov for more information.

Do you have trouble accessing your prescription medications? Tell us about it to help us advocate for change.

For up-to-date comments on health happenings in Florida, connect with us and share on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to unsubscribe.

[Guest guest]

I called! We can't take any more cuts!

To: VSequenzia@...Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 11:43 AMSubject: Fwd: Protect Medicaid from federal budget cuts!

FYI, please try to call today!

Regards, Ven Sequenzia President Autism Society of America State of Florida Chapter

Protect Medicaid from federal budget cuts!

July 12, 2011

Medicaid is threatened in federal budget talks. Here’s what you can do…

How big is the federal threat to Medicaid? The budget proposal already passed by the U.S. House would cut federal Medicaid funding to Florida by 44% by 2021. Even the President’s own plan for reducing the federal deficit calls for $100 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.

Tell your Senators TODAY: Medicaid Matters!Today, July 12th, hundreds of community, labor and faith leaders, doctors, nurses, and home healthcare workers will be led by Senators Menendez, Rockefeller, and Mikulski on Capitol Hill to stand up for the millions of seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working families who depend on Medicaid. You can join them in speaking out in today’s national call to action.

Call Senator Marco Rubio () and Senator Bill () and tell them Medicaid matters! Make today, July 12th a day for national unity to protect Medicaid.

Proof that Medicaid MattersA landmark research study led by Harvard and MIT economists analyzed a unique “Medicaid lottery†experiment. Uninsured Oregon residents were randomly divided into two groups: One group received Medicaid coverage, the other remained uninsured. Medicaid recipients received more care, felt better, and maintained their financial security better than those without coverage. Read more in the Kaiser Health News Blog.

While Washington debates federal proposals to cut Medicaid, Florida moves ahead with its own ill-advised plan to slash Medicaid spending…

InFlorida Medicaid: Already Cut to the Bone… And Now Facing Threat of Compound Fracture, the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy examines what a combined federal cut and statewide expansion of Medicaid privatization would do to Florida’s health care system.

Medicaid matters to seniors in Florida, but the new Medicaid law pending federal approval would swiftly move seniors in long-term care into private HMO plans. Florida CHAIN Board Members, Dr. Elsie Crowell and Twyla Sketchley, P.A., write about this misguided plan: The Case against Florida's Proposed Managed Long-Term Care Experiment.

Last month, Floridians spoke loud and clear at Medicaid meetings opposing the State’s plan to expand Medicaid Reform privatization statewide. Your action is still needed:

For Organizations: Sign on to this letter to CMS with other Florida organizations opposing expansion of Medicaid Reform. Write to lisag@... with your organization’sname as it should appear on the letter.

For Individuals: Send an easy message to CMS voicing your concerns about expanding Medicaid Reform statewide and privatizing care for millions of Florida’s children, disabled, and seniors. CMS will reply informing you they are waiting for the State to submit an application. It is important they hear from Floridians now.

In 2014, Medicaid will play a crucial role in expanding coverage through the Affordable Care Act along with health insurance exchanges, in which health plans will offer coverage with no possibility of denial due to pre-existing health conditions.

Until then, the ACA’s temporary solution is the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP). Real coverage is available for uninsured Floridians with pre-existing conditions through PCIP.

Even better news: PCIP rates were just lowered in Florida by 40%. For example, standard PCIP coverage for a 50 year-old is now $270 per month. Visit PCIP.gov for more information.

Do you have trouble accessing your prescription medications? Tell us about it to help us advocate for change.

For up-to-date comments on health happenings in Florida, connect with us and share on Facebook and Twitter.

Click here to unsubscribe.