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NCIL
Action Alert: Advocates Prepare for the Largest Medicaid Rally in the Nation
In less than a week, hundreds of disability organizations will be storming the Capitol
to show Congress that “My Medicaid Matters”. This rally supporting the preservation
of Medicaid is expected to be the largest political action by the disability community
since the passage of the ADA, and has drawn together an impressive list of more than
80 sponsoring organizations.
The My Medicaid Matters rally
will take place on Wednesday, September 21st from 12:00 – 2:30 p.m. Eastern in front
of the United States Capitol.
Individuals attending the rally in Washington, DC will have an opportunity that morning
to attend a hearing by the Healthcare Subcommittee on Oversight and Government Reform
regarding Medicaid at 10 a.m. The meeting will focus on Medicaid eligibility and
long term care. We are encouraging advocates to pack the hearing to show that “My
Medicaid Matters”. If you are unable to make it in person, a live webcast will be
provided on the
House website
.
Share Your Story: Rally organizers are seeking personal stories about Medicaid that
will highlight the importance of this program for millions of Americans. The point
is to provide meaningful examples to policymakers that will encourage them to approach
the reform of Medicaid in a way that does not hurt Americans that depend on the program.
Even if you cannot attend the rally in person, email your stories to
austin@ncil.org
.
Social Media: Be sure to follow the rally on Facebook and Twitter! We encourage people
to participate on Twitter using #Medicaid or on the
NCIL Facebook page
.
Talking Points: Health, Independence, Families, and Jobs!
Our message is loud and clear: “My Medicaid Matters!” Medicaid is more than just
health coverage. To people with disabilities, Medicaid means:
Health!
Medicaid provides hospital, doctor and other health services to low income families,
children as well as people with disabilities and older Americans
.
Independence
! Medicaid provides vital home and community-based services that allow seniors and
younger people with disabilities to live independently in the community.
Families
! Medicaid provides services that support families in caring for their children who
have significant disabilities.
Jobs
! Medicaid provides vital jobs for thousands of direct care workers throughout the
nation.
Reducing Medicaid means eliminating jobs, which will stifle the economy. This is
not a partisan issue! According to a recent Kaiser Foundation poll, 60 percent of
Americans want to maintain Medicaid and only 13 percent support cuts.
We demand that there be no arbitrary Medicaid cuts. Instead we support Real
Medicaid Reform
. We can protect our freedom, save money, and most importantly,
end the institutional bias
in Medicaid by:
Expanding the use of community-based services
Demedicalizing services
Expanding consumer directed options
Reorganizing Medicaid services to eliminate wasteful bureaucracy.
We urge lawmakers to include this approach and these principles in any plan that
addresses the deficit.
What’s happening in Washington?
The Bipartisan Congressional Super Committee, comprised of six Senators and six Representatives,
is charged with proposing targeted reductions in the federal budget of $1.5 trillion
over the next ten years - on top of the already $1 trillion cuts that were made as
part of the deal that created the process in the first place. The Super Committee
may employ any mechanism, from making cuts to creating revenue. One thing is clear.
Medicaid is now more vulnerable than ever before.
What to Expect at the Rally
Rain or shine, more than a thousand people from disability, aging, labor, religious,
and civil rights organizations will gather on Capitol Hill at noon. After the rally,
advocates will bring the message that “My Medicaid Matters” directly to Congressional
offices and distribute information about the important impact that this program has.
What is Happening Locally
While advocates are defending Medicaid in Washington, hundreds more from all over
the country will be flooding the phone lines of the Super Committee members with
the same message: “My Medicaid Matters!” There will also be simultaneous rallies
and press events occurring locally.
If you cannot make it to DC, join organizers across the nation at local rallies!
To list your rally, please send the time, location and address to
thea@ncil.org
.
California
Los Angeles: 12:00 noon at the Governor’s Office in LA. 300 S. Spring St. For more
information, contact Terrance or Cynde at CALIF
(213) 627-0477
.
San Francisco: 12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza. For more information
contact Derek at ILRCSF,
415-543-6222
.
Kansas
Parsons: 11:00 a.m. Media contacts are
billc@skilonline.com
or
joec@skilnonline.com
, call
620-717-2260
for details.
Illinois
Chicago: 12:00 noon near Senator Kirk and Senator Durbin’s offices; Federal Plaza,
230 S. Dearborn. For more information contact Tom Wilson at
(312) 640-2125
or
twilson@accessliving.org
.
Montana
10:00 a.m. at all seven of Senator Baucus’ offices statewide.
Ohio
Columbus: 12 noon at the Office of Senator Rob Portman at 37 West Broad St.
Cincinnati: 12 noon at the Office of Senator Rob Portman at 36 East 7th St.
Cleveland: 12 noon at the Office of Senator Rob Portman at 1240 East 9th St. For
more information contact: Sue Hetrick at
614-575-8055
or
shetrick@abilitycenter.org
.
Texas
Details will follow.
Background
Medicaid is the public funding stream that provides health coverage for low-income
children and adults, as well as long term services and supports for people with disabilities
and low-income seniors. Over 58 million Americans rely on Medicaid services, and
millions more are connected to Medicaid in some way. We all know people who benefit
from the Medicaid program. For example:
Do you or someone you know use Medicaid long term services and supports?
Do you or someone you know use Medicaid to cover prenatal services to ensure a healthy
pregnancy?
Do you or someone you know work as a home health attendant?
What does Medicaid pay for?
Medicaid pays for hospital, physician, dental, nursing facility, lab, x-ray, and
family nurse practitioner services. It also pays for home care and other services
that allow seniors and people with disabilities to live in the community, as well
as prescription medications, optometrist services and eyeglasses, prosthetic devices,
dental care and other community-based services and supports.
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