Tuesday, March 14, 2017

#SaveMedicaid (Talking points & Tweets)


  • Call Congress, (202) 224-3121 (ask to be transferred to your Senators or Representative)
  • Call the White House, (202) 456-1111 
  • Call Governor Inslee: 360-902-4111 (TTY/TDD users should contact the Washington Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-833-6388.)

People with developmental disabilities don’t just rely on Medicaid – it is their lifeline. Funding caps and cuts will hurt them and their families the most.  

Here are some talking points to share with your friends and coworkers, as well as your elected officials. Many people -- even other advocates concerned about cutting and capping Medicaid -- do not understand the effect that the proposed American Health Care Act will have on people with developmental disabilities.

You can help inform them.


Here is what to share:


Medicaid provides services and supports that maintain the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees living with disabilities. For many people with disabilities, being able to access timely needed care is a life or death matter.

To the developmental disability community, Medicaid is both an essential source of health insurance and THE funding source for home- and community-based supports that enable people with developmental disabilities to live in the community, and not be institutionalized. Home and community services include employment support; behavioral, speech, occupational and other habilitative therapies; positive behavior supports; respite; supported living options, and many more services. Our state DSHS/DDA services are nearly all funded by Medicaid.

The American Health Care Act fails to address people’ most basic concerns about the future of their health insurance coverage. It repeals the Medicaid expansion, but does not address how the millions of low income individuals, including millions with behavioral health conditions, will otherwise access healthcare coverage.

As is, thousands are on waiting lists for home and community based services. Cutting and capping Medicaid and further trimming services could be devastating.

For many people with disabilities, being able to access timely needed care is a life or death matter. Block grants or per capita caps on Medicaid will inevitably slash federal support for what is already a lean program and force states to cut services and eligibility that put the health and well-being of people with disabilities at significant risk.

Some taking points (in the form of Tweets):

Caps and Cuts to Medicaid are Devastating

  • Caps ARE cuts. #SaveMedicaid #MedicaidMatters
  • Per capital caps will shift $370Billion in costs to states over next 10yrs. @centeronbudget #SaveMedicaid
  • Capping Medicaid pays for tax cuts to the wealthy. Robin Hood in reverse. #SaveMedicaid
  • ACA repeal means the US will “shed 2.6 million jobs in 2019, near 3 million by 2021.” @milkenInstitute #SaveMedicaid
  • Timely access to care is a life or death matter. #SaveMedicaid
  • States would get less federal funding than under current law, with the cuts growing each year.  #SaveMedicaid
  • Caps strangle future healthcare coverage for elderly & disabled who need it #SaveMedicaid #MedicaidMatters
  • People with disabilities rely on Medicaid. Funding caps and cuts will hurt them and their families the most. #SaveMedicaid
  • We need more Medicaid funding, not less, to improve choices and quality of care. #SaveMedicaid #MedicaidMatters
  • Medicaid is my lifeline. #SaveMedicaid @ccd4pwd
  • Caps = less funding. Less funding = fewer options #SaveMedicaid #MedicaidMatters
  • Without federal funding, states will have to choose which people to cover and which to let die. #SaveMedicaid
  • From 2000-2010, Medicaid spending per enrollee grew only 5%, while avg per capita national health expenditure grew 39% #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid’s administrative costs = only 5% of spending; commercial insurance administrative costs are 17% #SaveMedicaid
  • Sign up to stay informed on how we can work to #SaveMedicaid http://bit.ly/2nlAMgw @ccd4pwd

Home- and community-based waivers are the best

  • Medicaid cuts will end jobs for tens of thousands of direct care & support workers. #SaveMedicaid #SaveJobs
  • Less funding = fewer options for people with disabilities and our families. #SaveMedicaid 
  • #HCBS waivers are hard to get as it is. Cutting funding will make the waitlists longer. #SaveMedicaid
  • Living at home w/ supports is cheaper than living in a nursing home & more dignified. #SaveMedicaid #SaveOurDignity #HCBS
  • Respite care shouldn’t be optional. #SaveMedicaid 
  • Did you know schools get Medicaid $ for transportation and speech therapy? #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid expands access to home- and community-based services. #SaveMedicaid #KeepAmericaCovered #HCBS

 

Who is affected by Medicaid cuts?

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CHILDREN
  • We didn’t vote for health care reform at the expense of our children. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid is the nation’s largest health insurer for kids w/ disabilities & special health care needs, covering 43% of them #SaveMedicaid #SaveOurKids
  • Slashing funds to state Medicaid programms puts tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of children and their futures. #SaveMedicaid
  • Nearly half of Medicaid beneficiaries are children: 30+million low-income kids rely on benefits to live. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid is currently the gold standard for children’s health care. Don’t force states to cut benefits. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid covers foster children and children with disabilities. #SaveMedicaid so these kids stay safe & healthy.
  • Kids with disabilities should be in their own homes, not nursing homes. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid is the largest source of funding nationwide for maternity care. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid’s EPSDT rule provides kids with access to care they need at a cost parents can afford. #SaveMedicaid
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PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
  • We didn’t vote for health care reform at the expense of the most vulnerable. #SaveMedicaid
  • Some people with disabilities need help to get up and out to work. #SaveMedicaid to save independence and jobs
  • What’s a “per capita cap” and what would it mean for me? @TuesdayWithLiz #SaveMedicaid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0lXvND9nNM
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OLDER AMERICANS
  • 1 in 7 seniors rely on Medicaid for care as they age. #SaveMedicaid
  • Medicaid cuts and caps put our seniors in danger. #SaveMedicaid
  • The American Healthcare Act shreds the Medicaid safety net serving 72 million Americans. @familiesusa #SaveMedicaid

 

Loss of Services

  • Before the ACA, people with disabilities were routinely denied care, when they needed it the most. #KeepAmericaCovered #SaveMedicaid
  • “Flexibility” shouldn’t mean fewer, lower quality options for people with disabilities and families #SaveMedicaid #MedicaidMatters
  • The ACA gave millions of disabled Americans and their caregivers access to health insurance. #KeepAmericaCovered #SaveMedicaid
  • #SaveMedicaid so people with disabilities & chronic conditions cab live healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives.
  • Medicaid is the largest source of funding nationwide for maternity care #SaveMedicaid
  • Important services like speech therapy are currently covered. #SaveMedicaid #SaveOurServices
  • Millions with mental or behavioral health conditions rely on Medicaid for needed services. #SaveMedicaid  #KeepAmericaCovered
  • Nobody should be denied access to quality healthcare #SaveMedicaid
  • Do NOT allow restructuring and cuts to Medicaid to be part of an ACA replacement #SaveMedicaid

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