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Dear Health Advocates,

We hope you are having a great week as we continue to celebrate the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act and the health priorities it contains. While Congress is on recess, we want to bring your attention to two important opportunities to comment on proposed regulations that need health advocates' attention. Please see the resources and events below for your health care advocacy.


** Action Items
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* NEW! Join the Consumers First coalition and comment on critical payment and delivery reforms in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) ([link removed]) (due COB September 2) and Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) ([link removed]) (due COB September 12)
* NEW! Comment on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to advance Medicare dental coverage
+ You may utilize Families USA's template comments ([link removed])
+ Submit comments here ([link removed]) by September 6 at 5:00EST


** Upcoming Events and Opportunities
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* NEW! Families USA Health Justice Now Webinar: Effective Use of Peer Supports in Behavioral Health Care and Crisis Intervention ([link removed]) , September 12 at 3pm ET
* National Academy for State Health Policy's annual conference: Forecast for State Health Policy ([link removed]) (September 12-14)
* Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States: 2022 Sex Ed on the Hill Convening ([link removed]) (September 20-21)
+ Register now ([link removed]) , since space is limited!
+ Read their fact sheet on the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act ([link removed])
* Community Catalyst's virtual convening: Anchoring Race Equity and Advancing Health Justice ([link removed]) (September 20-22)
+ Register by September 10
* Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Advancing Health Equity (AHE) Learning Collaborative ([link removed])
+ Applications are due by September 23


** Resources for Your Health Advocacy
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* Inflation Reduction Act
+ Families USA's Insights Column: What the "Inflation Reduction Act" Means for Our Health ([link removed])
* Health Equity
+ National Health Law Program's comment post: Stop Discrimination in Health Care! ([link removed])
+ Families USA Analysis: Community Voice and Equitable Policymaking in the United States: Lessons from Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution ([link removed])
* Health Care Value
+ Families USA Comment Letter: Request for Information on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Initiative to Strengthen Primary Health Care ([link removed])
+ Consumers First: Comment Letter to Federal Government on the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule ([link removed])
+ Families USA Paper: Our Health Care System Has Lost Its Way ([link removed])
* Oral Health
+ CareQuest Institute for Oral Health: Medicaid Adult Dental Coverage Checker ([link removed])
+ Families USA Insights Column: Time for Medicare to Cover Our Entire Body ([link removed])
+ Families USA Fact Sheet: The Time is Now for Administrative Action to Improve Medicare Dental Coverage ([link removed])
+ Families USA Comment: Medicare Oral Health Coalition Applauds CMS' Inclusion of "Medically Necessary" Dental in Proposed 2023 MPFS ([link removed])
+ "Dear Colleague" Letters to CMS on Medically Necessary Dental Coverage from House Representatives ([link removed]) and from Senators ([link removed])
* Surprise Medical Bills
+ NEW! Families USA Statement: Biden Administration’s Actions Will Protect Millions Of Families From Financial Ruin When Seeking Medical Care ([link removed])
+ Families USA Fact Sheet: New Protections from Unexpected Medical Bills: What You Need to Know About the No Surprises Act ([link removed])
o Spanish version: Nuevas protecciones contra facturas médicas inesperadas: Lo que necesita saber sobre la Ley Sin Sopresas ([link removed])
* Reproductive Health and Abortion
+ National Partnership for Women & Families Issue Brief: State Abortion Bans Could Harm Nearly 15 Million Women of Color ([link removed])
+ Guttmacher Institute Interactive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access After Roe ([link removed])
+ INeedAnA.com ([link removed]) : Find a clinic - to find vetted, up-to-date, and personalized info on how to get an abortion; no search or user data saved
+ ReproLegal Helpline ([link removed]) : a free, confidential source for legal advice and information about abortion
o Visit their website ([link removed]) or call 844-868-2812
+ M+A Hotline ([link removed]) : a confidential, private, and secure phone and text hotline for people in need of support for self-managed miscarriage or abortion
+ Keep Our Clinics ([link removed]) : Support independent community providers who provide the majority of abortion care in the US
+ Donate to Abortion Funds ([link removed]) (and amplify calls for donations): A donation to the National Network of Abortion Funds brings abortion funds closer to a future where all people have access to abortion without shame or stigma
* Behavioral Health
+ Families USA Advocacy Guide: Peer Supports in Behavioral Health Care: A 2022 Resource Guide for Advocates ([link removed])
* Medicaid
+ Families USA, Community Catalyst, United States of Care, and UnidosUS Webinar Recording: Reflections with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: The Past, Present, and Future ([link removed])
* Prescription Drug Pricing
+ Morning Consult and Political polling on Rx pricing and APTC enhancements: Voter Perceptions of the Inflation Reduction Act ([link removed])

Thank you for your tireless advocacy as we continue fighting for the best health care for all of America's families. Please reach out to any of us at Families USA to connect on our shared advocacy efforts, or to let us know what you'd like featured in upcoming Resource Roundups!

Have a great weekend,

Kevin Han
Strategic Partnerships Associate

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Health Action 2020

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