Call In Days on Rep. Price Nomination to Head HHS and Medicaid/ACA

from NHELP:

Senators Cassidy (R-La.) and Collins (R-Maine) introduced the so-called "Patient Freedom Act" (PFA) as one alternative to replace the ACA. NHeLP's Director of Health Policy, Leonardo Cuello, authored a new paper, "Nine Things to Know About the Cassidy-Collins Replacement." His takeaway, the senators' bill is "a totally inadequate substitute for the ACA." 

Please share Leo's paper widely with networks and on social media. 

We're likely to see more potential "replacement" bills over the coming weeks. But right now, it's important to continue to register your concern about attempts to repeal without replacement as well as to oppose Rep. Tom Price for Secretary of HHS. See below for two action alerts.

Action Alerts:

Monday - call senators on Senate Finance Committee to oppose the nomination of Tom Price to lead HHS

Tuesday & Wednesday - call senators and representatives to oppose ACA repeal, Medicaid and Medicare cuts

1. No on Rep. Tom Price to Head HHS

The Senate Finance Committee is slated to vote Tuesday, January 31on the confirmation of Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) to head the Department of Health and Human Services. If you are from CO, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, LA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NV, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY, you have a senator on the Finance Committee so please urge your senator to VOTE NO on Tom Price.

Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 on Monday, January 30 (or early on Tuesday, January 31).

Fact sheets and talking points:

• NHeLP - HHS Data and Analysis Contradict Nominee Rep. Tom Price's Unfounded Claims About Medicaid
• National Women's Law Center - Tom Price would be Dangerous as Secretary of Health and Human Services
• National Center for Transgender Equality - Tom Price is Wrong for Health & Human Services
• Mom's Rising - How would Trump's Cabinet Picks affect you
• Public Citizen - Extensive Stock Trading by Trump's Nominee for HHS Raises Conflict of Interest Concerns
• Center for American Progress - Tom Price Would Jeopardize LGBT People's Health and Wellness

2.  No to ACA Repeal, Medicaid & Medicare Cuts

Please call your senators and representative on Tuesday 1/31 and Wednesday 2/1 to oppose repealing the ACA without a replacement and to oppose any cuts or restructuring of Medicaid. The call-in number is 866-426-2631 (Thanks to SEIU for providing the toll-free call-in number; those who call will hear a brief overview of the issues and will be asked to enter their zip code before being transferred to their members of Congress.)

Below are talking points you might use for the calls: 

• No repeal of the ACA without simultaneous replacement - If Congress votes to repeal the ACA, a replacement package that provides equivalent or improved access to comprehensive, affordable, quality health coverage must be included in the same legislation. 
• No cuts to and restructuring of Medicaid - More than 100 million individuals rely on Medicaid over the course of each year. Program cuts, along with block grant or per capita cap proposals, would hurt people who have no alternative means of paying for essential services. See our "Protect Medicaid" series for more information.
• Preserve Medicare for current and future seniors and people with disabilities - Premium support and other restructuring proposals to shift more costs onto beneficiaries would make health care far less affordable and accessible to seniors and people with disabilities.