Fight to Save ACA a Priority

In a front-page column in Sunday’s, Sept. 23, 2017 Record Eagle, “Latest Attempt to Repeal ACA Could Hurt Many,” by Jordan Travis, we are warned by Gabe Schneider, Munson’s director of government relations, that should the Graham-Cassidy ACA Repeal pass, “150,000 northern Michigan residents who live in the Munson Healthcare coverage area,” could lose health insurance coverage. The bill would eliminate expanded Medicaid by 2020, instead providing states with a block grant, stopping government subsidies for those who buy health insurance through the ACA exchanges as well as letting states eliminate those with pre-existing conditions and exclude many standard medical conditions. Schneider states that Michigan could lose $8 billion in federal funding under the new law through 2026.

All of this should be of primary concern for residents of Grand Traverse County and the 1st District. You can help efforts to stop this egregious bill. Let’s contact via phone in the coming week the following politicians: let’s target these perhaps swayable U.S. Senators:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska (202) 224-6665

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine (202)224-2523

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia (202)224-6472

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio (202)224-3353

Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada (202)224-6244

Since 1st District residents stand to lose so much and the state as a whole, let’s also contact:

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder at (517) 373-3400 and ask him to join the other eleven state governors, both Democrats and Republicans, and the many insurance companies, medical associations, AARP, and doctors and nurses across the country to call out Graham-Cassidy for the travesty that it is.

Here is a Script from Five Calls:

Hi, my name is [NAME].

I'm calling to ask [SEN NAME] to vote against the Cassidy-Graham ACA repeal bill. It's appalling the Senate GOP is pushing through a bill without a CBO score instead of working to strengthen the ACA's individual markets. The American people want a bipartisan approach to repairing the ACA, not a repeal of it.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Let’s join hands and defeat Graham-Cassidy!