"Empowering Families, Coordinating Systems"
TIME TO ACT!
New GOP Health Care Plan Caps Medicaid, Cuts Expansion. 

The newest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act is closer than ever to becoming a reality as Senator John McCain, the tie-breaker from the last vote, has indicated that he may vote in favor of repeal. As was true in previous versions, the Graham-Cassidy proposal would repeal major provisions of the ACA/Obamacare, restructure the Medicaid program into limited block grants, impose huge funding cuts and allow states to gut pre-existing condition protections. While the Congressional Budget Office scores may not arrive in time, it is estimated that this proposal would result in tens of millions of American losing their health insurance, New York State losing $33 billion by 2027, and strip away critical coverage and protections for families needing addiction and mental health care.

A vote on the Graham-Cassidy ACA/Obamacare repeal legislation could be scheduled for next week. Please call your U.S. Senators today through the following toll-free number, 888-852-0653, to ask them to vote against Graham-Cassidy.

The following Senators are particularly important to contact:

Senator Murkowski (Alaska)

Senators Flake and McCain (Arizona)

Senators Cotton and Boozman (Arkansas)

Senator Gardner (Colorado)

Senators Ernst and Grassley (Iowa)

Senator Young (Indiana)

Senator Moran (Kansas)
Senator Collins (Maine)
 
Senator Heller (Nevada)
 
Senator Tillis (North Carolina)
 
Senator Hoeven (North Dakota)
 
Senator Portman (Ohio)
 
Senator Rounds (South Dakota)
 
Senators Alexander and Corker (Tennessee)
 
Senator Capito (West Virginia)


Sample call script:
I am a constituent from Senator _____'s state and am calling to urge him/her to vote NO on the Graham-Cassidy health care repeal bill. Graham-Cassidy would be devastating for people in our state who need lifesaving addiction and mental health care and would cause millions to lose coverage. I strongly urge the Senator to vote NO on Graham-Cassidy. 

Special thanks to the Legal Action Center for the list and call script!

Write a letter with the National Council for Behavioral Health Action Alert

Update: Senate Finance Committee Leaders Agree to Five-Year Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Extension

The Federal Children's Health Insurance Program, known in NY as Child Health Plus (CHP), is up for re-authorization at the end of September. CHIP  provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. New York's CHIP program, Child Health Plus, covers over 344,000 children (June 2017, NYS DOH). FTNYS, in partnership with other children's advocates, are urging the legislature to continue to fund this important source of coverage available to families who need it. 

With funding for the CHIP nearing its expiration at the end of September, Senate Finance Committee leaders have announced a bipartisan proposal to reauthorize funding for the program for five years. Formal legislation has not yet been released, but Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) have committed to help move the proposal through Congress this month. An identical proposal must also pass the House and be signed by President Trump.
Read more from the National Council for Behavioral Health about CHIP re-authorization. 

Act to reauthorize CHIP and to end the push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
Follow us on social media!
Like us on Facebook
 Follow us on Twitter

Families Together in NYS | [email protected] | 518.432.0333 | www.ftnys.org