A Delay is Good, but the Fight for Healthcare is Not Over

ACA Action Alert Affordable Care Act General Healthcare Medicaid

DREDF is grateful to the thousands of disabled Americans who have visited the offices of elected officials in recent weeks either by demonstrating or by meeting with staff, and for those who have called, emailed, tweeted, and shared Facebook messages with your Senators and Representatives.

Your opposition to Senate GOP efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act echoed loud and clear, and as a result, the Senate GOP vote was postponed until AFTER the July 4 recess. That is worth celebrating!

But we’re not done yet. Odds are this bill, or some version of it, will be voted on when the Senate returns after the July 4 recess on Monday, July 10th. We’re showing signs of clear success.

Now, more than ever, disability activists across the nation must remain vigilant.

Here’s what you can do:

  • On Wednesday, June 28 Families USA hosted the first hour of the People’s Filibuster on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol. From 8-9 AM EST health care consumers who will be harmed by ACA repeal and cuts to Medicaid shared their stories. Particularly telling was the story of Mike Phillips, a dual eligible disabled man and his mother Karen Clay, who drove all the way from FL to DC to speak at the rally. For additional background on the situation faced by disabled Americans who are at risk of losing their Medicaid waivers like Mike watch their recent interview on MSNBC here: https://goo.gl/yKfvES
  • Fearing almost certain defeat, the #SenateGOP has proven to be too cowardly to vote on the very bill they were celebrating just last week—or even hold town halls to hear the views of the constituents who elected them. Keep up the pressure! During the July 4 recess the disability community needs to make EVERY EFFORT to continue to oppose Medicaid cuts by engaging with elected officials wherever they appear over the holiday recess: parades, pancake breakfasts, ribbon cutting ceremonies, local offices, airports, etc.
  • DREDF will be releasing a more substantial analysis of the so-called ‘Better Care Reconciliation Act’ to inform your calls and correspondence with Senators and other elected officials before the holiday weekend. Stay tuned for this and other useful information and updates as they become available.