Dear Health Advocates,

As you know, yesterday was a flurry of news and questions about President Trump’s order to freeze trillions of dollars of federal funding that impact all aspects of American life – including critical, bipartisan programs that children and families rely on.

As of now, there is a stay on the freeze after a U.S. District judge blocked this order from taking effect; funds are going out as normal. Still, we know the White House’s decision has already disrupted Medicaid portals and programs, causing massive confusion and concern yesterday afternoon.

The whiplash is frustrating, chaotic and dangerous, yet we know it is part of the playbook. Showing loud, public opposition is a key way to ensure that the administration and Congress are aware that advocates are monitoring their actions and are ready to engage, respond and mobilize when they overreach.

To that end, it is valuable to continue reaching out to your Congressional delegations to highlight your concerns with the freeze on federal funding and the impact it could have in your state. Here are a few resources that can support your actions – and thank you for your efforts:
• You can find the number for your member of Congress here or call Congressional Switchboard (202) 224-3121.
• You can read Families USA’s statement here. Please feel free to share it with your networks or use it as your organization crafts your own.
• You can let us know if you are interested in speaking to a reporter about what you are experiencing on the ground. We have been in touch with reporters who are looking to speak with state-based advocates. Please reach out to Kasey Hampton, FUSA Communications Director at [email protected] if you are interested.

Additional highlights to share
Affordability Agenda
Through a series of roundtable discussions with national policy experts, state advocates and stakeholder organizations, Families USA identified substantial gaps in oversight governing the Medicaid managed care system. This new policy agenda outlines common sense proposals that would bring transparency and accountability to Medicaid managed care to ensure this system of care delivery lives up to its promise to lower costs and deliver high-quality care to the 66 million Americans that depend on it. Read more here ([link removed]).

Upcoming Day of Action/Call-In Day for Medicaid Defense: Feb 6
Please join Families USA, Community Catalyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), and NHeLP on Friday, January 31st from 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET to prepare for an upcoming Day of Action/Call-In Day for Medicaid Defense with advocates across the country.

During the prep call we’ll discuss the following – and how to make it clear to policymakers that Medicaid saves lives, cutting funding will take away critical care from those who need it most, and we are saying “Hands off Medicaid.”
1. Details about the February 6th Day of Action and continued outreach to Congress;
2. Resources and ways to mobilize your communities and coalitions into action (e.g., call/email script, template fact sheet, template press release, social media toolkit, etc.); and
3. State partners experiences planning a successful day of action.
Register here for our January 31st prep call at 2:00-2:30 p.m. ET so you can prepare for February 6th.

And finally, thank you to those of you who joined us at our 30th Annual Health Action Conference!

You can find more on all of this below, along with this week’s new opportunities and resources:
Action Items
• URGENT! Families USA Email Writing Campaign: Protect and Defend Medicaid
• URGENT! Tell your representative to take action right now by using our letter-writing tool on Families USA Action's Same Service Same Price Website.
• URGENT! Families USA Email Writing Campaign: Urge Congress to Take Action on Advanced Premium Tax Credits!
• TAKE ACTION: Submit your patient story on hospital pricing abuses to [email protected]
• TAKE ACTION: Join Our Health Justice Now Network

New Resources
• NEW! Families USA Policy Agenda: Making Health Care Affordable: Reining In Health Industry Abuses To Lower People’s Costs and Generate Budget Savings
• NEW! Families USA Report: Achieving Transparency, Accountability and Quality in Medicaid Managed Care: A State and Federal Policy Agenda

Upcoming Events
• URGENT! Tell your representative to take action right now by using our letter-writing tool on Families USA Action's Same Service Same Price Website.

FUSA in the News
• NEW! Anthony Wright, Executive Director, was mentioned in
Inside Health Policy - Families USA Emphasizes APTCs’ Benefits To Medicaid Non-Expansion States (as a result of his discussion with reporters during the Health Action Conference)
• NEW! Cal Matters - We tracked California’s lawsuits against Donald Trump. Here’s where the state won — and lost
• Articles on Families USA’s Medicaid sign-on letter appeared in the following publications:
o Chief Healthcare Executive - Hundreds of healthcare groups urge Trump to protect Medicaid
o The Hill - Advocates launch Medicaid defense
o Healthcare Innovation - Trump’s Initial Orders Affect Healthcare Costs
o Inside Health Policy - Advocates Defend Medicaid With Appeal To Trump, Massive Ad Campaign

Health Equity
• Families USA Insights: Transforming Care: Addressing Health Inequities and Pitfalls through Innovative Models of Care
• Families USA Analysis: Charting the Course for Community Health Workers: Identifying Challenges and Opportunities to Secure Medicaid Reimbursement for CHWs in State Medicaid Programs
• Families USA Comments: Families USA Submits Comments on Annual Rulemaking to Improve Health Equity, Value, and Coverage
• Partner Resource: March of Dimes Maternity Care Deserts Report
• Reuters article: US States Sue Over Biden Ruel Extending Health Insurance to DACA Immigrants
• Families USA Statement: Families USA’s Statement on Supreme Court’s Punt, Failure to Protect Health and Lives of Millions of Pregnant People Nationwide
• Families USA Insights Blog: Ripple Effects: The Fall Of Roe V. Wade

Health Care Value
• Families USA Fact Sheet: Stop Big Health Care Corporations from Keeping Workers and Small Businesses Under Water
• Families USA Comments: 30 Organizations Send Letter to Alabama Governor Ivey on Expanding Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors
• Families USA Fact Sheet: The Nuts and Bolts of Medicare Physician Payment — And Why It Needs Reform
• Families USA Fact Sheet: Americans Could See Major Savings on Routine Imaging Services if Congress Makes, “Same Service, Same Price” a Reality
• Families USA Fact Sheet: November Is Diabetes Awareness Month
• Families USA Webinar Recording: The Time Is Now: Coming Together to Win Against Big Hospital Corporate Greed
• Families USA Webinar: Help Alabama Families Impacted by Diabetes: Expand CGM Access
• Families USA Fact Sheet: A National Patient Safety Board: What America Needs to Ensure Patient Safety
• Families USA Statement: Families USA Statement for the Record for Finance Committee Inflation Reduction Act Hearing
• Families USA Comments: Families USA Submits Comments on 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule
• Families USA Comments: Families USA Submits Comments on Annual Rulemaking to Improve Health Equity, Value, and Coverage

Health Coverage
• Medicaid 101 Fact Sheet and Handout: Medicaid Matters: To People, Our Economy and the Health Care System
• Families USA Press Release: Strong Open Enrollment Numbers Signal the Need to Pass the Health Care Affordability Act
• Families USA Press Release: More Than 300 Organizations Urge New Congress to Protect and Strengthen Medicaid
• Families USA Insights: Marketplace Open Enrollment Helps Keep Families Connected to Affordable Health Coverage
• Families USA Fact Sheet: Better Health, Stronger Families: Improving Medicaid Coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitors in Alabama
• Families USA Webinar Recording: Overpayment, Marketing Abuses, Care Delays and More: Top Priorities for Medicare Advantage Reform
• Families USA Comment: Comment on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule “Medically Necessary” Coverage
• Families USA Comment: Written Testimony of Anthony Wright for Education and Workforce Hearing

Thank you for your tireless advocacy as we continue fighting for the best health and health care for all of America's families. To connect on shared advocacy efforts or let us know what you would like featured in upcoming Resource Roundups, please respond to this email or reach out at [email protected]!

Have a great week,

Nate Keller

Partnerships Mobilization Associate

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