Health Care Advocacy Updates

Help Tennessee's TennCare Eligible Children The recent news of 128,000 children losing TennCare is frightening. We believe there is a direct correlation between the loss of $1million in federal funds dedicated to providing in person assistance to Tennesseans without health insurance and children losing TennCare. You can help us reach TennCare eligible families by sharing these unbranded graphics along with our 844-644-5443 hotline. Access graphics and read our full statement, here.

THCC Updates In March THCC: Enrolled 227 people in healthcare plans (11 QHP and 216 TennCare). Mailed this Open Letter to Bill Lee along with 730 names of Tennesseans who want to see Tennessee stop refusing $3.8 million a day in federal tax dollars to Expand Medicaid. Generated messages opposing block grants from constituents of House Finance and House Health committee members. Advocates wrote letters to editors, opposing block grants. Here's one from Judy Roitman. Launched a TennCare Enrollment site at Hamilton County Health Department with our volunteer partners Enroll the Region - Hamilton. Made more than 98k social media impressions with 10k engagements, on information mostly related to why block grants would be bad for Tennessee and Medicaid Expansion.

Tennessee native, Wendell Potter, returns for statewide tour to talk to business leaders and advocates about what's next in healthcare reform. Click here for Press Release and Locations

Reports and Announcements

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities published a blog titled "For ACA's 9th Anniversary, CBPP Examines Options to Further Expand Coverage" highlighting plans to further reduce the number of uninsured (Link).  Voices4Kids published "10 Reasons to Reject Medicaid Block Grants" describing the problems with block grant proposals such as failure to adjust for economic recession (Link). Kaiser Family Foundation published a report "Medicaid's Role for Women" (Link). Kaiser Family Foundation published a report "The Coverage Gap: Uninsured Poor Adults in States that Do Not Expand Medicaid." (Link). Estimating 2.5million people remain in the Coverage Gap because they make too much to qualify for Medicaid and not enough for ACA subsidies. Tennessee Citizen Action in partnership with the Roosevelt Institute and People's Action release a report "Profit Over Patients: How the Rules of our Economy Encourage the Pharmaceutical Industry’s Extractive Behavior." (Link).

Events and Webinars Spring Tour With Wendell Potter - From Memphis to Mountain City, Wendell Potter is joining Tennessee Health Care Campaign to talk about what's next in healthcare reform. ( Press Release ) Jackson - Tuesday, April 23, 11:30am - 12:30pm (RSVP Link) Nashville - Tuesday, April 23, 4:45 - 5:45 (RSVP Link) Nashville - Wednesday, April 24, 9am - 10am (RSVP Link) Chattanooga - Wednesday, April 24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm (RSVP Link) Huntsville - Thursday, April 24 11:00am - 1:00pm (RSVP Link) *Events in Memphis, Knoxville, and Tri-Cities are still being planned. More to follow.

Action Items and Input Opportunities Outreach to Parents and Caregivers of TennCare eligible children Social Media Sharables - Unbranded social media graphics may be used in newsletters and social media to send the message "Did you know, you can enroll in Medicaid Anytime?" along with our Get Covered Tenn 844-644-5443 hotline. (Link) Oppose Block grants Letter to the Editor: No to Block Grants - Yes to Medicaid Expansion - This template brings awareness to the concerns related to block grants. Enter your address to populate local newspapers, then you choose which to send your letter to. Customize as you see necessary, staying close to 300 words. (Link to Template) Letter to State Legislator: No to Block Grants Sadly, the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee voted to advance the bill that would convert TennCare to a block grant. Take a moment to send a message to your state legislator to oppose block grants. (Link to Letter) Protect the ACA ACA is Under Attack The Justice Department has announced its support of a lawsuit that would strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety. Send a message to your federal legislators urging them to defend the critical protections and expanded healthcare access provided by the ACA. (Link to letter)

News of Interest African American Health Disparities via WKNO, NPR for Mid-South Baby survival rates improved in states with Affordable Care Act via Newsweek Industry braces as more lawmakers seek to ban surprise billing via HealthCareDrive Judge blocks Medicaid work requirement in Arkansas and Kentucky via New York Times Medicaid Expansion across the country: A check-in on ballot recent initiatives via Commonwealth Fund Putting People Over Profits via Kingsport Times Tennessee cancels kids insurance via Tennessean Tennessee Democrats, health care activists decry ACA ruling, criticize state Attorney General Slatery via Times Free Press Tennessee must take steps to prevent maternal deaths via Knox News What to do about Tennessee's rural hospital closure crisis via Tennessean Why the possibility of TennCare converting to a block grant has opponents growing worried via Nashville Public Radio

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