13
Jul
2017
ACA Repeal
04
May
2017
AHCA passes US House: Missouri Health Care for All Responds
Missouri Health Care for All Decries U.S. House Vote to Eliminate Basic Insurance Protections in Affordable Care Act and Slash Medicaid
Statement from Missouri Health Care for All, in response to House Leadership American Health Care Act
After weeks of arm-twisting to try to garner enough votes, U.S. House Leadership rushed a vote on the American Health Care Act (AHCA) without analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. This bill would repeal many of the insurance protections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), such as requiring insurance policies to cover prescriptions or maternity care, and make radical cuts to Medicaid funding. The provisions of this bill would result in millions of people losing their health care.
The AHCA is unacceptable for Missourians. Low- and middle-income Missourians would be charged more, and insurance coverage for those with pre-existing conditions would be jeopardized while providing more assistance for wealthy and healthy people. The bill would make coverage less affordable for average Americans and gives tax breaks to big drug and insurance companies.
One of the most concerning aspects of the AHCA is the radical restructuring of the Medicaid program. Under the per capita caps proposed in the bill, the state of Missouri would see deep cuts in federal funding for health care for our most vulnerable neighbors, including children, people with disabilities, and seniors. Per capita caps would put Missourians at risk of devastating outcomes due to lack of health care.
The AHCA flies in the face of what the American people want. Recent public opinion polling shows Americans are looking to Congressional leaders to improve upon the gains made under the ACA, not work to dismantle them. Unfortunately, the American Health Care Act does just that by not requiring insurance policies to cover the basic services we need, and wouldn’t require that certain people, such as women and seniors, are charged fair rates for insurance.
Thousands of Missourians have rallied, called, e-mailed, and written their Congressional delegation to oppose cuts to health care programs and protections. The U.S. Senate should not move ahead with this reckless plan that would make working families and the most vulnerable Americans pay more for less, strip away health coverage from millions of people, and finance tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Missouri Health Care for All calls on Missouri’s elected officials to heed the voices of their constituents who have urged them to choose a path that makes insurance better for more people.
Contact your Senators here: https://missourihealthcareforall.org/dont-gut-healthcare
Join events on Friday, May 5th at noon in Clayton at Senator Blunt’s Office
And Springfield
Missouri Health Care for All is a non-partisan organization founded in 2007 by faith and community leaders on the principle that every Missourian deserves access to quality, affordable health care.
01
May
2017
Tell Congress: Stand Strong & Stop the AHCA
UPDATE! Rep. Billy Long has now flipped his vote. We need to keep the pressure up on all of our Members of Congress and tell them to stand strong for those of us with pre-existing conditions and beyond.
24
Mar
2017
Victory! House halts ACA repeal – because of YOU!
You called, you e-mailed, you rallied.
They said we couldn’t stop Congress from repealing the Affordable Care Act, but you showed up anyway.
And today, you WON.
As you may have heard, the U.S. House of Representatives just pulled the “American Health Care Act,” their bill to gut the Affordable Care Act and slash funding for Medicaid. They canceled the planned vote because they did not have enough support to pass the bill.
This is a huge victory for every person who believes in access to health care, and for the 24 million Americans who would have lost their health insurance under this bill. And it is proof that the voice of grassroots supporters like you can make a difference.
Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law – seven years and one day ago – the U.S. has made tremendous strides in improving access to health care. Insurance levels are at the highest level ever. People are no longer charged unfair rates because they have a pre-existing condition, or because they are women. Insurance now has to cover more of the services we need.
In the years since the ACA took effect, Missouri Health Care for All has spoken with hundreds of Missourians, coming from every part of the state, who have benefitted from the Affordable Care Act. Women have received treatment for breast cancer. Young adults have gotten coverage. People battling addiction have been able to access treatment. Families have avoided medical bankruptcy.
This dangerous bill was halted by a deep groundswell of opposition from people across the country. Here in Missouri, thousands of people have called and e-mailed their members of Congress. Just this week, more than 350 Missourians attended 14 rallies across the state. The message from these supporters was clear and loud: Congress should abandon attempts to gut the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
Today is a good day for Missouri and the U.S. We look forward to working with elected officials to build upon the gains we have made toward making health care affordable and accessible for every person.
This weekend, take some time to celebrate a hard-won victory that will save lives in every part of this country.
But don’t go away – our work isn’t done yet. We expect further attacks on health care from both Congress and the Missouri Legislature. And, we still need to fix the real holes in our health care system, such as the Coverage Gap that leaves 300,000 Missourians without health care.
We’re in this for the long haul, and are grateful to have you with us. We’ll be in touch next week about next steps.
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being part of this movement.
21
Feb
2017
We’re bringing the town hall to Senator Blunt this Saturday morning
Do our elected representatives care about our health care?
This week is Congressional recess – meaning our elected officials have left their DC offices to join us, their constituents, back home in our home districts. Across the country members of Congress are holding public town halls to hear from their constituents.
Currently, US Senator Roy Blunt has yet to schedule public meetings, so we’re accommodating his schedule and bringing the town hall to him!
Springfield Street Town Hall & Save Our Care Rally
When: Saturday, February 25th from 6:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Where: In front of University Plaza Hotel, 333 S John Q Hammons Pkwy Springfield, 65806
Why: Our DC delegation needs to hear from us, their constituents, about how the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and health policy impacts our health, our lives and our communities.
RSVP: https://www3.thedatabank.com/dpg/616/mtglistproc.asp?formid=calendar&caleventid=1826
Senator Blunt will be speaking at the Lincoln Days’ breakfast Saturday morning. We’re joining forces with concerned citizens to rally early in the morning – 6:30 AM – to share our stories and show Senator Blunt that we need to talk about health care.
What else?
We know this is early – so be sure to dress warmly – but know you won’t be alone! Bring your stories, your passion, your friends, and we’ll bring the coffee and extra signs to spread our message.
We know stories matter – bring a photo of a loved one or your reasons why health care matters so much to your life and our families. We’re going to show the strength of our voices and our concerns.
12
Jan
2017
Health Advocates Denounce U.S. Senate Vote to Gut Health Care
The United State Senate voted in the wee hours of the morning, Thursday, January 12, to pass a budget resolution intended to dismantle much of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare or the ACA.
The vote was 51-48, with all Republican Senators except one voting for it and all Democratic Senators voting against it. Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted yes on the resolution, while Senator Claire McCaskill voted no.
While this vote is only the first step, it shows where lawmakers are on this issue.
Last night’s vote was the first step in a process known as budget reconciliation, which will allow opponents of the Affordable Care Act to dismantle the law’s protections while avoiding a Democrat-led filibuster.
While many of the Senators pushing for an immediate repeal of the ACA have promised to “repeal and replace” the law, there is no replacement plan in place. None of the plans that have been proposed by individual lawmakers come close to matching the comprehensive protections of the Affordable Care Act.
“Moving to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a plan in place to replace it is a reckless move,” says Jen Bersdale, Executive Director of Missouri Health Care for All. “Last night’s vote is the latest example of elected officials putting politics before the lives of millions of people who stand to lose their health insurance under this scheme.”
Health care supporters across the state have contacted Missouri Senators and Representatives, urging them not to repeal the Affordable Care Act before there is a replacement plan that guarantees those currently covered do not lose their insurance.
We applaud Senator McCaskill for heeding the calls of her constituents and standing strong for their health care. Senator Blunt should have followed her leadership and that of his Republican colleague, Senator Paul, who voted no because there is no replacement plan in place. He is playing a dangerous game with his constituents’ health and should reconsider his position in future votes.
The resolution now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it by Friday, January 13.
Missouri Health Care for all urges the House of Representatives, including the members of Missouri’s delegation, to act more responsibly than their colleagues in the Senate. Missourians have too much at stake in this debate to have their health care used as a political football.
21
Dec
2016
