From Moms Rising (https://www.momsrising.org/):
Momentum is building for the Build Back Better Act and with it will come some BIG improvements to health care! The time is now! We need YOUR voice, YOUR persistence, and YOUR push to get it over the finish line!
Quick signature at https://action.momsrising.org/sign/health-care-bbb: Tell your members of Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act and improve our nation’s health care and care infrastructure.
What’s the deal? Congress is coming back from recess this week and with our voices and continued engagement, we will win some BIG improvements in health care in the Build Back Better Act! It’s critical to make your voice heard to ensure your members of Congress know you support these critical health care investments:
- Investing in Home- and Community-based Services (HCBS) which helps people with physical or cognitive limitations get services in-home / in their community rather than in an institution. It will also improve quality measures for home care, protect spouses from becoming impoverished, and make “Money follows the Person” permanent, which helps people move from institutional settings to the community. [1]
- Lowering prescription drug prices by allowing Medicare to negotiate the prices of up to 20 new drugs a year, an out of pocket cap for seniors in Part D, an insulin cap, and instituting rebates for drug prices that grow faster than inflation. [2]
- Closing the Medicaid coverage gap through 2025 which will expand health care to over 2 million people in the 12 states that have refused to expand Medicaid. Fully 60 percent of uninsured people in these states are people of color, so closing the coverage gap is a key component to reduce racial health inequities. [3] (Uninsured people will be able to enroll in Marketplace plans without paying a premium beginning January 2022!)
- Extending the expanded Premium Tax Credit for ACA Marketplace plans through 2025 which will make health insurance for millions of Americans more affordable. [4]
- Permanently extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ensuring that millions of children across the country have stable and dependable coverage, and allowing states to expand access to CHIP. [5]
- Addressing the Black maternal mortality crisis with better support for mothers and babies by including key provisions of the Black Maternal Health “Momnibus” bill. [6]
- Providing 12 months of continuous coverage for all kids enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP to prevent gaps in coverage for kids when families have a small change in income and reduce paperwork for families. [7]
- Expanding Medicare to include hearing coverage that includes hearing assessment services, management of hearing loss and related treatment. [8]
Like we said—BIG health care improvements are on their way! Let’s get this bill over the finish line.
When you click, you can sign on to our petition that reads:
Dear members of Congress,
I’m writing to let you know that I support the BIG health care improvements in the Build Back Better Act.
We need need these major investments to improve the health of our families and communities: investing in Home- and Community-based Services (HCBS), lowering prescription drug prices, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, extending the expanded Premium Tax Credit for ACA Marketplace plans, permanently extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), addressing the Black maternal mortality crisis, providing 12 months of continuous coverage in Medicaid/CHIP, and expanding Medicare to include hearing coverage.
Please support these measures to improve our nation’s health care and pass the Build Back Better Act without delay.
The more people who speak out, the bigger our impact. Please take a moment to forward our action link to your friends and family, and to share it on social media: https://action.momsrising.org/sign/health-care-bbb
Together we are a powerful voice for the health of families.
References:
[1] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, New House Build Back Better Legislation Would Make Long-Lasting Medicaid Improvements[2] Vox, This may finally be the year Congress lets Medicare negotiate drug prices
[3] Kaiser Family Foundation, Federal Policy May Temporarily Close the Coverage Gap, But Long-term Coverage May Fall Back to States
[4] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Build Back Better Increases Health Coverage and Makes It More Affordable
[5] Georgetown Center for Children and Families, Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill Would Take Big Strides in Expanding Health Coverage and Access for Children and Families
[6] Black Maternal Health Caucus, Build Back Better Act, Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act Investments
[7] Georgetown Center for Children and Families, Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill Would Take Big Strides in Expanding Health Coverage and Access for Children and Families
[8] Kaiser Health News, Democrats Plan to Expand Medicare Hearing Benefits. What Can Consumers Expect?
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