Quick signature: Tell your U.S. Senators to expand access to health care
in reconciliation to the 12 states that have refused to expand Medicaid as
well as address the child care and care emergency!
[ [link removed] ]Take Action Now
[ [link removed] ]TAKE ACTION

Dear Friend,

"South Carolina, where I live, has refused to expand Medicaid coverage
and I volunteer in my church's outreach program. Our clients need
medical care and can't afford it. There is very little help for them. If
we had expanded Medicaid, they would be in much better health and some
could even go back to work and be productive with this help. It is
extremely important that all people are able to access health care." -
Mary in Rock Hill, SC

Last night, U.S. Senate leadership released their plan for reconciliation
and while the Inflation Reduction Act [ [link removed] ] provides some significant gains
in health care, (Yay!) there are still some key pieces missing that would
expand health care coverage, promote health equity, and address the care
crisis. (Boo!)

But we have a small window of opportunity to fix that!

[1]Quick signature: Tell your U.S. Senators to expand access to health
care in reconciliation to the 12 states that have refused to expand
Medicaid as well as address the child care and care emergency!

What’s happening? The U.S. Senate is in final negotiations about what to
include in a reconciliation package, which is now largely focused on
health care. Even though there is strong public support for expanding
health care for uninsured people, there is still some resistance with some
key Senators. In fact, a recent poll shows 95% of Democrats, 69% of
Independents, and even 61% of Republicans support Congress expanding
health coverage in the 12 states that have refused to expand Medicaid. [ [link removed] ]

Everyone, regardless of race, class, or zip code, deserves to have health
care coverage. Closing the unfair health coverage gap is important to help
end discrimination in health care and promote health equity. Right now,
the majority of the over 2 million people who are currently in this
“coverage gap” are people of color. [ [link removed] ] The uninsured rates among Black
and Latinx/Hispanic adults remains disproportionately higher than that of
white adults, especially in these states. This disparity is largely
reflective of unfair economic inequities, including that Black and
Latinx/Hispanic adults are less likely to get health coverage from their
employers, as well as of unfair immigration policies that constrain
coverage options for many people. [ [link removed] ] It is far past time for Congress to
take action to improve health equity!

This is a critical time for you to make your voice heard for health equity
and care! We have the opportunity to expand health care coverage to
low-income uninsured adults and support health equity, but we need your
voice to get these policies over the finish line in the next week!

[2]***Sign on now! Tell your U.S. Senators to close the Medicaid gap,
improve maternal health equity, and address the child care and care
emergency!

This is an emergency. The United States is the most dangerous place to
give birth in the industrialized world. [ tel:1-888-678-9475 ] And, across the country,
families are also facing massive racial disparities in health outcomes for
pregnant and postpartum people. In fact, Black moms are dying from
pregnancy complications at 3-to-4 times the rate of their white
counterparts, regardless of age, income, and education. [ [link removed] ] Indigenous
women face similar disparities. It doesn’t have to be this way! States
that have expanded Medicaid have shown greater improvements in reducing
maternal deaths and infant mortality. [ [link removed] ] Reconciliation must fund efforts
to address this disparity, diversify the prenatal workforce, tackle the
maternal mental health crisis, and extend postpartum coverage. 

Closing the coverage gap and including investments in the health and
well-being of expectant mothers, specifically funding for the crucial
provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 is key to
reducing racial health inequities. [ [link removed] ] Not to mention, 10 of the 12 states
that haven’t expanded Medicaid either already have or are likely to enact
bans or severe restrictions on abortion.

Moreover, we need access to affordable, high quality child care, as well
as comprehensive paid family and medical leave, home- and community based
services, and fair pay for care workers without delay. There’s no time to
waste.

[3]Don’t forget to sign on now! We’ll be delivering your signatures in the
coming days. Tell your U.S. Senators to close the Medicaid gap, include
the provisions of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 in the
reconciliation package, and address the care crisis!

The more people who speak out, the bigger our impact. Please take a moment
to share our action link with your friends and family:
[4][link removed]

Together we are a powerful voice for the health of families.

- Felicia, Tasmiha, Tina, Monifa, Donna, Nina, Elyssa, Kristin and the
whole MomsRising / MamásConPoder team

P.S. Call your U.S. Senators NOW to tell them to close the health care
coverage gap and address the care crisis! Just dial [5]1-888-678-9475 and
we’ll connect you.

 

[1] Vox, [6]What Democrats’ big new bill would actually do
[2] Center for Advancing Innovative Policy, [7]Voters Are Struggling with
Inflation, Negatively Impacted by High Health Care Costs, and Supportive
of Policies that Expand Affordable Health Coverage
[3] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, [8]Closing the Coverage Gap a
Critical Step for Advancing Health and Economic Justice
[4] The Commonwealth Fund, [ [link removed] ]Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Health Care
Coverage and Access, 2013–2019
[5] U.S. News & World Report, [ [link removed] ]U.S. Hospitals Do Little to Protect
Mothers During Birth
[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, [ [link removed] ]Working Together to
Reduce Black Maternal Mortality 
[7] Fierce Healthcare, [ [link removed] ]The impact of Medicaid expansion on maternal,
infant health
[8] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, [ [link removed] ]Closing the Coverage Gap
Would Improve Black Maternal Health


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