Health Care for All 2009

A Moral and Economic Imperative “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. We spend twice as much as the rest of the industrialized world on health care Yet 46 million Americans lack health insurance, 8 million of whom are children Millions more are underinsured As our economy worsens, things will only get worse

Those We Trust Support Reform 450,000 Doctors Can’t Be Wrong – watch the videowatch the video Listen to nurses support health care reform on the White House blognurses support health care

RESULTS 2009 Health Care Campaign Goals Strengthen and expand Medicaid Increase access to primary care for underserved communities through a larger and better supported community health center network Create a strong, non- profit, public health insurance plan as an option for people to choose. Build support for a National Health Program (a.k.a. single-payer system) as the long-term vision for U.S. health care Support efforts to end childhood hunger in the United States through investments in child nutrition programs

Reasons to Celebrate! The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) provides health coverage to 4.1 million more low- and moderate- income children The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) increased federal funds for Medicaid to help states maintain health coverage during the recession

Health Care Legislative Update The House of Representatives passed the “Affordable Health Care for America Act” (H.R.3962), on November 7,  Read AARP’s endorsement of this billAARP’s endorsement The Senate has begun debate on the ”Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” bill which merged the two Senate Committee bills. The Senate and House bills will be the sent to a Conference Committee to create one bill. That bill must be voted on again by both chambers. Visit the Kaiser Family Foundation website for up-to-date reportsKaiser Family Foundation website

Background on Medicaid Covers 60 million low-income Americans (over 40 percent of the poor) Larger than any other single health care program in the U.S. (including Medicare) Benefit coverage includes physician and hospital visits, well-child care, health screenings, vision care and dental services and all services deemed “medically necessary” The child health component of Medicaid is the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) Program, and is required in every state.

Medicaid Benefits Reduces out-of-pocket expenses Covers many services not typically covered by private health insurance – transportation and disability assistance Provides comprehensive coverage, including long-term care due to serious illness Carries 20 percent fewer overhead and administrative costs than private insurance Allows appeals to benefit denials without risk of losing coverage

Medicaid Access Issues Many adults do not qualify for Medicaid Only 25% of the nation’s uninsured are currently eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 35% of uninsured Americans have income levels below $10,830 a year – by expanding Medicaid, we can reduce the number of uninsured by over one-third Only 16 states and Washington, DC currently cover parents up to the federal poverty line ($22,050 for a family of four in 2009)

RESULTS positionSenate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act House Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962) -- passed Affordable Health Care for America Act Expand Medicaid to include everyone at or below 150% of the federal poverty line (FPL). Provide for automatic increases in federal funding during economic downturns, i.e. counter- cyclical financing. Finance Medicaid expansion with 100 percent federal financing. Preserve existing Medicaid benefits for current and new enrollees. Expands Medicaid eligibility to everyone at or below 133 percent FPL, beginning in Federal government pays 100 percent of the expansion through No provisions for counter- cyclical funding. Expands Medicaid coverage for everyone up to 150% of the FPL. Provides 100% federal funding for the expansion until No provisions for counter cyclical funding, but $23.5 billion included to continue higher federal funding for Medicaid to help states. Preserves existing Medicaid benefits for current and new enrollees. Medicaid and Health Reform

Background on Community Health Centers (CHCs) CHCs comprise the nation’s largest primary care system with 1,100 facilities serving 19 million people Anyone can seek care at a CHC but most cared for are uninsured or on Medicaid CHCs primarily serve lower income and minority communities 70 percent of patients have incomes below 100% FPL

CHC Access Issues Many in rural areas and urban inner cities still lack nearby health care facilities and primary care providers Need has increased for health care providers to staff community health centers Newly underinsured turning more to CHCs for affordable care A combination of incentives for doctors and health care service providers, along with increased federal funding, is desperately needed for health centers to merely maintain the level of care they currently provide their communities Learn which CHCs are near you at the Health Resources and Services Administration locatorlocator

RESULTS positionSenate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act House Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962) -- passed Affordable Health Care for America Act Urge Congress to expand access to primary care through a larger and better supported community health center network. Authorizes up to $8.3 billion in CHC funding by Funding would increase gradually, from $2.8 billion in 2010 to $8.3 billion in Language does not guarantee funding; only authorizes it to be allocated. Guarantees funding for health centers though a Public Health Investment Fund, which contains an additional $12 billion for Health Centers over the next five years. Increases investment in National Health Service Corps to train more health care service providers. Health Centers and Health Reform

National Health Program RESULTS has endorsed a national health insurance program as our long term goal for U.S. health care A national health program, or "single-payer" health care, is a system in which a single public or quasi- public agency organizes health financing, but delivery of care remains largely private In the U.S., Medicare is a single-payer system in that private doctors and hospitals deliver care to patients but the bills are paid by the government, not private insurers

Single-Payer Would Help Patients All Americans would be covered for all medically necessary services Patients would regain free choice of doctor and hospital, and doctors would regain autonomy over patient care Families will pay less

Single-Payer Would Help the Economy Medicare for All would be a major economic stimulus Single-Payer health care lowers costs through: Negotiating reasonable fees for services Bulk purchasing of prescription drugs Eliminating administrative waste Businesses will pay less 62 percent of all bankruptcies are caused by illness and medical bills – see Physicians for a National Health Program videovideo

RESULTS positionSenate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act House Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962) -- passed Affordable Health Care for America Act RESULTS has endorsed a National Health Program as our long-term goal for health reform (H.R.676 and S.703). Does not include a national health care plan. Sen. Sanders (I-VT) many offer an amendment on the Senate floor to allow certain states to try state-based single- payer systems. Does not include a national health care plan. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D- NY-9) withdrew his amendment that would have replaced the provisions in the bill with those of H.R.676 and create a national health program. Single-Payer and Health Reform

Child Nutrition Programs Federal nutrition programs help feed children in low-income families 12.4 million children lived in households that were food insecure in 2007 (USDA) Both poverty and food insecurity are much higher for Hispanic and African-American households Moderate under-nutrition can have lasting effects on cognitive development of children

Child Nutrition Reauthorization Child Nutrition Reauthorization has been postponed until 2010 School Breakfast and Lunch Special Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) the Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP President Obama’s proposed budget would increase total funding for child nutrition by $2.7 billion in FY 2010

Principles for Child Nutrition Reauthorization A broad-based Child Nutrition Coalition has agreed on a statement of principles for reauthorization. RESULTS endorses these principles. Improving access to nutritious food in schools, child care centers and homes, in after school programs, on weekends, during the summer, and in the home. Enhancing the nutritional environment to promote healthy eating habits for women and children. Modernizing and streamlining program operations to improve program integrity and efficiency.

Health Care Laser Talk Engage: New data shows that 45,000 people die every single year in the United States because they lack health coverage; at least one-third of the uninsured fall below the poverty line and cannot get Medicaid coverage because of current program restrictions.45,000 people die every single year Problem: While I am pleased that all of the health reform bills moving in Congress expand the Medicaid program to everyone at or below 133 percent of the poverty line, the Senate bill still needs serious improvements in order to provide a reliable health safety net that protects low-income communities.Medicaid

Health Care Laser Talk Inform: For example, the Senate bill delays this important Medicaid expansion until 2014, and also asks states to pay for part of it, which has drawn objections from many governors. Unlike the House bill, the Senate legislation does not include resources to increase reimbursement rates — this is key to making sure that society’s most vulnerable can access services in their communities. The foundation for meaningful health reform this year must be America’s successful public programs — Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — and I hope you will support amendments that strengthen the Medicaid program.MedicareChildren’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Health Care Laser Talk Call to Action: Will you work to strengthen Medicaid by securing full federal financing for the expansion, providing “traditional” Medicaid benefits to all those who gain coverage, expanding access by increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates, and not making our most vulnerable wait five years to get coverage through Medicaid?

Resources Health Reform.gov offers a state-by-state analysis of how health care reform can benefit the constituents of your elected officials Health Reform.gov Media tips from Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) Media tips A Woman Is Not a Pre-existing Condition – watch the videos videos Side-by-side comparisons of bills from Kaiser Family Foundation Side-by-side comparisons Part of a faith community? Check out Faithful Reform in Health CareFaithful Reform in Health Care