Thursday June 15 2017, 9:00 AM - Thursday June 15 2017, 6:00 PM
@ Via Telephone

Members of the U.S. Senate are working behind closed doors on their own version of American Health Care Act (AHCA).   The U.S. Senate is preparing to vote on the AHCA within the next 2-3 weeks. There is a lot at stake for Wisconsin in this vote.

The AHCA cuts federal Medicaid funding by 25% over 10 years and eliminates key health care protections for children and adults with disabilities. Estimates indicate Wisconsin could lose $1 billion in funding and put many essential programs and supports for children/adults with disabilities and seniors at risk.

Disability policy experts are particularly concerned about the future of long-term community-based supports, such as those in Family Care/IRIS because all of them are optional, not mandatory. 

There have been no public hearings held on these major proposed changes. Join us on June 15th to let the U.S. Senate know the importance of Medicaid programs to Wisconsin residents.  

These significant cuts to Medicaid mean cuts to Wisconsin programs like Family Care, IRIS, the Children’s waiver, BadgerCare, mental health programs like CCS, Katie Beckett, autism services, therapies like OT, PT and Speech, personal care, supports provided in schools and even Aging and Disability Resource Centers. Many of these are optional services in Medicaid and are at significant risk of being cut or eliminated.

The Senate is also debating:

• Even bigger cuts to Medicaid
• Weakening protections for people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions by allowing states to charge them more for health care.
•  Allowing states to stop providing Essential Health Benefits like habilitative/rehabilitative services and devices; mental health services and prescription drug coverage.

On June 15th, join us in doing these four things:

1. Call Senators Ron Johnson (202-224-5323) and Tammy Baldwin (202-224-5653) and tell them how Medicaid cuts would impact you. You can share these concerns:  
   1. Cuts to Medicaid will mean cuts to Wisconsin programs that children and adults with disabilities need.
   2. The AHCA weakens protections for people with disabilities and other pre-existing conditions by allowing states to charge them more for health care.
   3. The AHCA allows states to stop providing Essential Health Benefits like habilitative/rehabilitative services and devices; mental health services and prescription drugs
   4. There is no public input or hearings; all decisions are being made behind closed doors. 
2. Call Governor Walker: 608-266-1212.
3. Call your local radio/TV stations and ask to be interviewed about how the proposed health care bill would impact children and adults with disabilities. 
4. Tell at least two of your friends what cuts to Medicaid would mean for you and your family. Ask them to call their two U.S. Senators.

Information on Medicaid enrollment in your Congressional District can be found here: http://www.survivalcoalitionwi.org/index.php/2017/updates/results-and-stories-from-survival-coalitions-am-i-impacted-by-medicaid-survey/