The Senate is set to vote on a newly written bill, referred to as the skinny repeal, barely released an hour ago. They will vote around midnight.
Read the full text.
Even Senators dislike it, but they may still vote it through.
Watch live as they vote:
Earlier today, the Senate voted 51-50 to proceed with debate over the health care bill. With only 2 opposing Republican votes, just 1 shy of what was needed, plus a tie-breaking vote from VP Pence, the motion succeeded. We now move toward serious Medicaid cuts that can’t be reversed once set into motion, and it will take all of us standing together to prevent it.
Data shows that any bill, amendment, or revision proposed so far will be detrimental to Medicaid recipients. We (MSL) oppose the per capita caps or block grants that have been proposed because they will shift great stress to state budgets and reduce the ability to give recipients the coverage they need. We oppose ending expansion because it will result in millions losing coverage. In addition, the aforementioned bills remove essential health benefits and pre-existing condition protections, which would be detrimental to all Americans, making coverage unaffordable if not unattainable for many.
As part of the AACF statement on how this vote will affect Arkansas, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said: “Today’s vote shows that we have more work to do. Despite an outcry from health care professionals, business owners, families, and even governors, many Senators have decided to move forward with legislation that will destabilize the entire health care system. Too much is at risk to continue down the current path. Children with special needs, elderly enrollees, and people with chronic conditions who rely on Medicaid will lose coverage. Health care for families that were able to purchase affordable coverage, many for the first time, is also at risk.
The people have spoken—any proposal that falls short of guaranteeing everyone affordable, comprehensive coverage, is unacceptable. Now, it’s time for Congress to listen. We ask that Senator Cotton and Senator Boozman commit to voting no on any bill that endangers the health of tens of thousands of Arkansans. Anything less is breaking their promise to all of us.”
Now that we understand the ramifications haven’t changed, here’s what will happen next:
As you can see, if you oppose Medicaid cuts, you can’t give up. Not a single Democrat voted to proceed, and we only need a few Republicans to oppose to keep any bill from moving forward. We were only one opposing vote short. Take a breath, renew your determination, and communicate in any way you possibly can!
Email your Senators’ legislative aids!
Stand strong!
The news changes like the wind. Are they voting or aren’t they? Repeal and replace or repeal without replace? No matter what’s happening with them, we need to continue to make our needs and wants abundantly clear.
Many are saying that they can’t get through to Senators via phone calls. Don’t stop calling because they are counting the calls. 866-426-2631
However, social media is a great way to publicly contact your Senators, especially since they won’t post their direct email addresses.
Share this graphic with them and tag them in your posts. Use hash tags like #BCRA or #ProtectOurCare to help others see your posts!
This is my sweet girl, Lila. She’s active and intelligent. She loves to swing, eat blackberries, and paint. Don’t you dare turn your back on her because she’s mischievous too! She loves her friends, family, and kitty-cats. She is absolutely the most wonderful thing I’ve ever done with my life, and she just so happens to have Down Syndrome.
She might smile a lot, but her life hasn’t been easy. Born almost a month early due to multiple complications, Lila spent some time in the NICU. She’s overcome multiple illnesses and surgeries, including open heart surgery soon after her first birthday and many others since. In fact, we have received 2 new diagnoses this year alone, and she’ll have at least one surgery.
My husband and I are proud Arkansans. We’re educated, hard-working, tax-paying citizens. At the time of Lila’s birth, we lived in another state. Despite the fact that we both had good jobs and primary insurance coverage, we struggled to provide for her needs. When we moved back to Arkansas, Lila was significantly delayed in many areas.
Our friends told us about TEFRA, a type of Medicaid funding that provides for disabled children and that requires the family to pay a premium. Our primary insurance pays first for all that it will cover, and Medicaid makes sure that Lila doesn’t go without the rest. We gladly pay a monthly fee for this essential assistance!
Lila now receives medical treatments that she needs from specialists and Occupational, Physical, and Speech therapy. She attends a school where she is loved and accepted, and they practice important skills in the classroom to prepare her for mainstream Kindergarten. Lila is constantly learning the necessary skills to be independent: speaking new words, learning to feed herself, to dress herself, and to climb stairs. One of my favorite moments was the first time I ever heard her say, “Ma Ma.” Can you imagine waiting 4 years to hear that?
We never expected to need Medicaid. Even though we’d paid taxes for years for Medicaid, we didn’t know that a person’s life can change drastically in a moment – a car accident, a stroke, a job loss, a cancer diagnosis, a chromosomal difference – to cause them to need Medicaid. We thought that if we worked hard enough, we could take care of ourselves and Lila. But no matter how hard we work or what we give up, we just can’t afford to provide for all of Lila’s needs. Now, because of Medicaid, Lila is thriving, and we’re not being crushed under the weight of Lila’s ever-growing medical debt. We have hope that she will continue to develop and someday be a valued, contributing member of society. We are incredibly thankful for Medicaid.
We tell everyone we can how essential Medicaid is! Lila has visited the Capitol and state lawmakers multiple times to represent herself and friends like her. Since she can’t speak much yet, my husband and I tell them how much Medicaid is literally saving lives. I can’t wait for the day that Lila will tell them herself. She brings a beauty and light to this dark world, and we will never stop fighting for her!
A revision of the BCRA Senate Health Care bill has been released, but what’s different? We have the one-stop-shop for understanding the bill for yourself.
Some reports say that they want to vote as early as Tuesday. Get to reading and then get to calling!
Every call matters. Here’s the number for Senators across the nation: 866-426-2631
Find your states US Representative & contact his/her office
Find your state’s US Senator & contact his/her office
What was the original bill?
Full text of the original bill. Click on the image below, and use the resources above to help you.
These two are my adult daughter and granddaughter. My daughter has developmental delays and multiple types of mental illness. My granddaughter has Down syndrome, Dyspraxia, and ADHD. Without Medicaid they will not have the therapies, medications, and medical care they need to live productive lives.
We are grandparents raising this little girl, and we are guardians to my daughter. We can’t make enough money to pay for private insurance for them or to pay out of pocket for these much needed services, therapies and medications. I fight Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and cancer. I don’t receive Medicaid. The stress of worrying if these 2 young ladies will still have medical care makes my health suffer greatly. I ask that Medicaid not be cut, that services are not capped so that all of those like my daughter and granddaughter can continue to get the treatments, therapies and medications they so desperately need.
Updated: 7/9/17 4:08 pm
By now, you’ve probably seen more than 10 different news stories about the Senate healthcare bill. Maybe 10 per day! But what’s the truth? Will it really cut Medicaid? Will it really affect everyone? Well, the only way for you to know is for you to read it yourself. And we can help you.
You need to read, but also, don’t stop responding. The Senate wants to vote on this bill as soon as they can come to an agreement. They’re having many negotiations behind closed doors. Let your voice be heard through those doors! These are the Arkansas Senators to contact:
Sen. John Boozman (202) 224-4843
Sen. Tom Cotton (202) 224-2353
If you’re not from Arkansas, this info pertains to you as well. Every call matters. Here’s the number for Senators across the nation: 866-426-2631
Find your states US Representative & contact his/her office
Find your state’s US Senator & contact his/her office
Contact information for all of AR Congressmen.
What’s truly in the bill?
Make sure to read the bill to form your own educated opinions. Click on the image below to access the full text, and use the resources above to help you.
Many of us feel overwhelmed by the information coming out about the American Health Care Act. Whether you support or oppose it, you need to let your federal representatives know how you feel.
If you’re not sure whether you support or oppose it, read the report from the House Budget Committee and the latest official information about the bill.
Some of you may fully support it, and it always helps to contact your legislators and tell them exactly what you like about it so those things won’t change.
We’ve seen many lawmakers oppose it, and they’re making amendments now to improve the bill. Our own Senator Cotton released a statement saying he can’t support it even with the recent amendments, while Westerman thinks it’s very patient-centered. Read about how our other Congressmen plan to vote. This bill has the capability to be devastating for Medicaid recipients. If this bill affects you, you need to contact all Arkansas US Senators and Representatives. Tell them what’s important for you.
Many National Advocacy groups and organizations are concerned about the AHCA, and they’ve asked Congress to protect Medicaid by changing what’s currently written.
The following is information provided by the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families:
“This week the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to consider the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that would repeal many provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and impose a per capita cap on the Medicaid program. In its current form, the bill would be a major step backward for health care coverage for our children, their parents, seniors, and the disabled.”
Read more about the AACF’s concerns.
“In exchange for cutting and capping funds, states are allowed unprecedented flexibility to set eligibility standards, benefits, families’ out-of-pocket costs, and provider payments.”
“Under the proposed AHCA, the children in the state who rely on ARKids First are at risk of losing the coverage they need and deserve.”
“The Medicaid reductions would also translate into a loss of coverage, fewer benefits, and lower provider payments… including [for] those with special health care needs like autism, Down syndrome, and other conditions that require special care.”
Make sure you contact US Congressmen, list the bill (AHCA), and briefly explain how it will affect you.
More from the AACF: http://www.aradvocates.org/aacf-statement-on-the-american-health-care-act-ahca/
Medicaid Saves Lives 