News

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee is holding a hearing on “Examining Policies that Inhibit Innovation and Patient Access.” What House Republicans are not including in their hearing agenda is an examination of the anti-innovation “Default on America Act” they just passed. Their legislation risks health care for 21 million Americans, slashes care for veterans, and cuts vital health care funding by 22 percent. This translates to over $10 billion in annual funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which would drastically reduce funding for innovative cures. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“If Republicans want to talk about policies that actually stifle innovation, look no further than their Default on America Act. Republicans’ Default on America Act slashes NIH funding that we know leads to innovative new drug discoveries. At a time when families are struggling to get by and afford the medications they depend on, Republicans want to cut NIH funding by billions of dollars in order to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations. Not only do Republicans want to cut funding for the NIH, but they also want to slash funding for mental health and substance use treatment, veterans’ care, and more. They are also seeking to throw millions of people off of their Medicaid coverage, which will only make it harder for people to get the medications they need to stay healthy.” 

Background

• The “Default On America Act” would cut NIH funding by 22%, which is over $10 billion of NIH’s $47.5 billion FY 2023 Budget.  
• Research shows that a 10% increase in NIH disease-specific research yields a 4.5% increase in new drugs, so a 22% cut can be expected to yield a 9.9% reduction in new products. This is a far more significant impact than the estimated 1% reduction in new drug approvals resulting from the prescription drug price negotiation program, which Republicans falsely claim is anti-innovation. 
• NIH funding totaling $230 billion contributed to research associated with all 356 new drugs approved by the FDA from 2010 to 2019. Every $10 million in NIH funding yields 2.7 commercial sector patents, so the Republicans’ cuts would result in 2,700 fewer commercial patents, far more harmful to innovation than prescription drug negotiation. The stock market has valued new patents at about $11.2 million per patent, so this is an economic loss of over $30 billion.
• Wall Street analysts estimate the Inflation Reduction Act will decrease Big Pharma’s revenue by $40 billion over the next 10 years, yet research shows Big Pharma could lose $1 trillion and still be the most profitable industry in the U.S.

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, Arkansas posted an update on its Medicaid redeterminations, commonly known as the Medicaid unwinding, showing that 45,000 people have already lost their health care coverage. Of those who lost their Medicaid, 40 percent are newborns or children. And, according to Arkansas officials, 72 percent have lost their coverage because of procedural issues. 

Congress passed legislation at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect access to Medicaid by ensuring no one could be disenrolled during the public health emergency. This provision expired on April 1, and an estimated 15 million people nationwide are at risk of losing coverage, disproportionately impacting rural Americans, people with disabilities, people of color, and children. States are working to re-evaluate their Medicaid rolls, but Republican-led states like Arkansas are often moving too quickly to throw people off of Medicaid without ensuring that they know their rights or eligibility for financial assistance under the Affordable Care Act or other health care programs. 

For additional background: Protect Our Care recently hosted events with Reps. Kathy Castor and Colin Allred, Tri-Caucus Chairs Nanette Barragán, Judy Chu, and Steven Horsford, and Senator Bob Casey and Rep. Debbie Dingell to discuss the urgent need for governors to do the right thing and protect health care coverage.

“It’s clear that Arkansas has one goal in mind: rip away health care from as many people as possible as quickly as possible,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “People should not lose their health care  because they didn’t quickly meet paperwork requirements or because they didn’t receive information about staying enrolled. Governors need to do the right thing and do everything in their power to keep people enrolled. Unfortunately, this seems to be just the latest salvo in the ongoing Republican war on America’s health care.” 

COVERAGE

Politico: Arkansas’ Tale On Medicaid Unwinding. “New data from Arkansas shows Medicaid unwinding is going how state officials had hoped — and many consumer advocates had feared. Nearly 45,000 Arkansans who had remained on Medicaid because of pandemic protections had their coverage terminated in April. Eighty-five percent lost their insurance for procedural reasons — because they failed to return their renewal forms or other requested information, or because the state couldn’t locate them — according to data published by the state Department of Human Services.” [Politico, 5/9/23]

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Nearly 73,000 Medicaid Beneficiaries In Arkansas Lose Coverage In April. “The cases of 72,802 Medicaid beneficiaries in Arkansas were closed at the end of April because they are either no longer eligible for Medicaid or didn’t return requested information necessary to determine their eligibility, the Arkansas Department of Human Services reported Monday. The closed cases include 44,667 Medicaid beneficiaries whose coverage had been previously extended because of special eligibility rules during the federal public public health emergency and 28,135 other Medicaid beneficiaries whose coverage was closed as part of normal operations…” [Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 5/8/23]

Protect Our Care Hosts Events with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), and more.

Protect Our Care held virtual events around the country to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. Judge O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra would end the ACA’s guaranteed free access to essential preventive services including lifesaving breast cancer screenings, colorectal and other cancer screenings, anxiety and depression screenings for children and adults, heart disease screenings, intimate partner violence screenings, and access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which can reduce the chance of contracting HIV.

NATIONAL

Thursday, March 30 – American Cancer Society Action Network, American Public Health Association, Legal Experts and Health Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Disastrous Impacts on ACA Protections in Braidwood Decision: Protect Our Care was joined by American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network President Lisa Lacasse, National Partnership for Women & Families’ Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, American Public Health Association Executive Director Dr. Georges Benjamin, and Andrew Pincus for a virtual press conference discussing U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires no-cost coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “Not only is Judge O’Connor’s decision wrong on the legal merits, it would be highly disruptive to our health care system and roll back health care gains made over the years,” said Andrew Pincus, experienced Supreme Court and appellate lawyer. “This ruling would eliminate guaranteed free access to life-saving preventive services for more than 150 million Americans.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• Washington Post: Texas Judge Invalidates Aca Promise of Free Preventive Health Services
• Bloomberg Law: US Appeals Decision Striking Free Access to Key Health Services
• STAT: Texas Judge Strikes Down Major Obamacare Provision Protecting Preventive Care
• Gizmodo: Zero-Cost Cancer Screenings and Birth Control ‘On the Line’ as Judge Strikes Down ACA Provision
• Dogwood: 150 Million Americans Are at Risk of Losing Free Preventive Healthcare. What Does That Mean for You?

Protect Our Care Hosted Two Press Calls Last Year: Chairman Bobby Scott, Legal Experts, Health Care Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Devastating Impacts of Kelley v. Becerra Lawsuit. You can watch the event here. Experts, Advocates Join Protect Our Care to Discuss Disastrous Impacts of New Lawsuit Threatening ACA Protections. You can watch the event here.

ARIZONA

Monday, May 1 – Arizona Copper Courier Op-Ed by Ali Farrell on the Braidwood Decision and the Threat to Preventative Care: Protect Our Care Arizona placed an opinion piece in the Arizona Copper Courier by Ali Farrell, a small business owner who receives health coverage through the ACA. In the piece, Farrell highlights the importance of the no-cost coverage of preventative care under the ACA, and how the Braidwood decision adversely impacts Arizonans. She writes, “The decision made in Braidwood Management v. Becerra means more people won’t be able to access preventative care, and for people like me with an extensive family history of breast cancer, staying on top of those services can be lifesaving. Living with a family history of breast cancer is terrifying. As a woman in my early forties, there is a feeling of existential dread looming in the back of my mind every single day. I live in constant worry that it is not if, it is when I get sick. Fortunately for me and for so many others living with this fear, we are able to have some peace of mind because we are proactive about making the most of any preventative measures available to us.” You can read the full op-ed here.

CALIFORNIA

Thursday, April 6 – Braidwood Accountability Event with U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), California Attorney General Rob Bonta: California Attorney General Rob Bonta and US Rep. Jimmy Gomez joined Protect Our Care California to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. US Rep. Jimmy Gomez said, “Early detection for a lot of diseases is the difference between life and death . . . Since I’ve been in Congress, and my entire life, I’ve been fighting for affordable, accessible, and of course quality health care.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, “When patients have access to blood pressure checks, flu shots, cancer screenings, pregnancy care, dental and vision screenings for infants and children, HIV medication, and many other critical preventive services, the burden on state and local public health systems is lessened. Preventive care keeps more people healthy. This ruling is dangerous, it’s short sighted, and worst of all, it puts countless lives at risk. We won’t let this stand.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• KSWB (San Diego Fox): Attorney General Bonta Speaks Up Against Braidwood Decision

MICHIGAN

Tuesday, April 25 – Braidwood Accountability Event with State Representative Julie Rogers with Michigan Health Care Leaders: State Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, Anita Fox, Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) director, and Nicole Wells Stallworth, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan executive director, joined Protect Our Care Michigan to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “The disastrous Braidwood ruling in Texas only further increases health care disparities in underserved communities across Michigan and around the country,” said state Rep. Julie Rogers, D-Kalamazoo, chair of the House Health Policy Committee. “That’s why my colleagues and I are introducing legislation that would enshrine important elements of the federal Affordable Care Act in Michigan law, including coverage for preventative services. We cannot afford to make preventative health care an afterthought in Michigan, or anywhere across the country for that matter.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• Michigan Advance: Health care advocates say ACA ruling has ‘disastrous’ impact on Michiganders
• WTVB: Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision
• Gongwer: DIFS Director, Other Officials Stress Importance Of Preventative Care
• MIRS: Bill To Put Preventative Health Care In ACA Coming
• WKZO AM: Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision
• Lansing City Pulse: Health care advocates say ACA ruling has ‘disastrous’ impact on Michiganders
• WNWN-FM (Battle Creek, MI): Rep. Julie Rogers, DIFS Director, health care advocates discuss impacts on ACA protections for Michiganders in Braidwood decision

Thursday, May 4 – Oakwood Press Op-Ed by Laura Bonnell on Protecting the ACA from Repeal: Protect Our Care Michigan placed an opinion piece in the Oakland Press by Laura Bonnell, CEO of the Bonnell Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance and emotional support to parents whose children have cystic fibrosis. In the piece, Bonnell makes the case that repealing the ACA would be disastrous for families like hers. Bonnell writes, “The impact of the ACA in the cystic fibrosis community cannot be overstated, including expanded Medicaid that has provided coverage for tens of thousands of families nationwide.” You can read the full op-ed here.

NEVADA

Monday, May 8 – Attorney General Ford, Health Care Advocates to Discuss Efforts to Protect Nevadans’ Access to Lifesaving Preventive Care and Necessary Reproductive Health Care: Protect Our Care Nevada is joined by Attorney General Aaron Ford, Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada, and For Our Future Nevada Health Care Advocate Jarrett Clark to discuss efforts to fight for the medical rights of Nevadans regarding recent attacks on American health care, including U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk’s ruling to invalidate the FDA’s approval of mifepristone.

Tuesday, April 18 – Reno Gazette-Journal Op-ed by Jarrett Clark on Protecting the ACA From Republican Attacks: Protect Our Care Nevada placed an opinion piece in the Reno Gazette-Journal by Jarrett Clark, a longtime Nevada resident and advocate for policies that benefit Nevada workers and their families. In the piece, Clark highlights how the Affordable Care Act saved his life after he was diagnosed with a rare genetic blood disorder. He also highlights the importance of protecting the ACA from Republican attacks, citing Braidwood Management v. Becerra. He writes, “Judge O’Connor’s decision in Braidwood Management v. Becerra would end the ACA’s guaranteed free access to essential preventive services including lifesaving breast cancer screenings, colorectal and other cancer screenings, anxiety and depression screenings for children and adults, heart disease screenings, intimate partner violence screenings, preventive HIV treatments and more.” You can read the full op-ed here.

NEW YORK

Thursday, April 6 – Braidwood Accountability Event with NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher and LGBTQ Health Care Advocates: New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher and New York-based LGBTQ and health care advocacy organizations including GMHC, Housing Works, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Stonewall Community Development Corporation, and Equality New York joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor’s devastating decision to strike down a major provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires free coverage of lifesaving preventive health care services. “It’s truly shameful that after all these years, after the programs provided by the Affordable Care Act have proven to be some of the most popular in decades for Americans, the Republicans are putting politics over people’s lives by continuing to attack it and attempt to dismantle it for political reasons. One of the  worst parts about this ruling is that it targets preventative care. That is an area that the US lags in badly. There are far too many people in our country who go to the emergency room for their primary health care. There is nothing more expensive. So when Republicans claim this is about costs they are being totally disingenuous,” said New York City Councilman Erik Bottcher. You can watch the event here. 

Coverage:

• NEWS12 The Bronx: Elected Officials and LGBTQ Advocacy Groups Rally In Response to Braidwood Ruling
• NEWS12 Brooklyn: Elected Officials and LGBTQ Advocacy Groups Discuss Impacts of Braidwood Ruling 
• WNYC Radio: Local Elected Officials and Health Care Leaders Discuss Braidwood Ruling
• Gay City News: New York leaders warn ACA preventive care ruling threatens access to care
• Gothamist: NYC health providers warn ‘HIV cases will go up’ if Texas ruling curbs access to PrEP

Monday, April 24 – amNY Op-ed by Jason Cionciatto on How the Braidwood Ruling Threatens Access to PrEP: Protect Our Care New York placed an opinion piece in amNY by Jason Cionciatto, Vice President of Communications and Policy at GMHC, the world’s first and leading provider of HIV and AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy. In the piece, Cionciatto highlights how the Braidwood ruling threatens access to PrEP, a lifesaving HIV prevention drug. He writes, “The Braidwood decision, if it is allowed to stand, would be a disaster for HIV prevention, enabling individual insurers to deny access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medications that, according to the CDC, reduce the risk of contracting HIV from sex by 99%. PrEP is a cornerstone of federal and state plans to end the HIV epidemic, and it has been instrumental in reducing new HIV infections nationwide.” You can read the full op-ed here.

Manufacturers of Top Selling Drugs in U.S. Reported Nearly $128 Billion in Revenue for the First Three Months of 2023

Despite decreased COVID-19 drug sales, pharmaceutical companies, among the most profitable firms in the country, reported approximately $128 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2023. During this period, Eli Lilly spent $750 billion on stock buybacks. Meanwhile, more than a third of Americans report not filling a prescription they need because they can’t afford it.

For too long, drug companies have been able to charge whatever they want, gouge whoever they want and profit as much as they can. President Biden and Democrats passed a plan to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices, which takes effect in 2026. Congress should build on this and expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices.

A Closer Look at Big Pharma’s Q1 2023 Earnings

• AbbVie reported quarterly revenue of $12.2 billion. 
• Amgen reported quarterly revenue of $6.1 billion. 
• AstraZeneca reported quarterly revenue of $10.9 billion, driven by a 15 percent increase in non-COVID revenues.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb reported quarterly revenue of $11.3 billion in the first three months of 2023 and told investors they expect to earn more this year than previously expected.
• Eli Lilly reported nearly $7 billion in revenue following 10 percent growth in non-COVID drug sales. The company informed investors that they are on track to make nearly $1 billion more than their expected annual revenue. Eli Lilly rewarded investors by spending $750 million on stock buybacks.
• Gilead reported nearly $6.4 billion in revenue, despite significantly lower remdesivir sales.
• Johnson and Johnson reported $24.7 billion in revenue. The company spent nearly all of its quarterly net profits on its talc powder-related lawsuits.
• Merck reported revenue of nearly $14.5 billion for the first quarter of 2023.
• Novartis reported $13.2 billion in revenue.
• Pfizer reported revenue of nearly $18.3 billion for the first quarter of 2023.
• Regeneron reported quarterly revenue of $3.2 billion.

Pharma Executives Brag About Strong Performance

“In Q1 2023…we returned just over $1 billion to shareholders in dividends and repurchased $700 million in stock.” [Eli Lilly Q1 Earnings Call, Anat Ashkenazi, 4/27/23]

“This performance is really quite remarkable when you consider that a 15% growth in revenue from our ex-COVID medicines. Core earnings per share grew 6% compared to the first quarter of 2022.” [AstraZeneca Q1 Earnings Call, Pascal Soriot, 4/27/23]

“We’re off to an excellent start in 2023 with each of our five key therapeutic areas meeting or exceeding our first quarter expectations…Total net revenues were $12.2 billion, approximately $400 million ahead of our expectations.” [AbbVie Q1 Earnings Call, Rob Michael, 4/27/23]

Watch the Event Here. 

Washington, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), and the National Council on Independent Living’s Theo Braddy joined Protect Our Care for a press conference to discuss how the end of the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement especially impacts people with disabilities. During the event, speakers discussed how governors must follow the Biden-Harris administration’s guidance and do everything in their power to ensure that people counting on Medicaid do not lose coverage due to burdensome paperwork and red tape. 

Congress passed legislation at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect access to Medicaid by ensuring no one could be disenrolled during the public health emergency. This provision expired on April 1, and an estimated 15 million people are at risk of losing coverage. Medicaid covers 45 percent of nonelderly adults with disabilities – that’s 10 million people, including people with physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, and brain injuries. Medicaid is also an important source of coverage for people with mental health and substance use disorders. 

In addition to the challenges from Medicaid unwinding, House Republicans recently passed their Default on American Act, threatening health coverage for 21 million people and creating more administrative burdens for states as they work on redeterminations of Medicaid eligibility. The bill also includes radical cuts to vital health care programs, including veterans’ health care, nursing home safety, mental health services, and more. 

“Medicaid is vital for millions of people,” said U.S. Senate Aging Committee Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA). “Over 9 million people with disabilities are covered by Medicaid, and 72 percent of children could lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage as the continuous coverage provision ends, even though they are still eligible. I want to impart an urgent message to people across the country enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP—make sure you get informed, make a plan for health care enrollment, and visit Medicaid.gov to find resources to maintain your coverage.”

“Every American has the right to quality, affordable healthcare, period,” said U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06). “But currently, millions of Americans are at risk of losing coverage due to the unwinding of the Medicaid continuous enrollment provision. We cannot allow people to slip through the cracks and lose critical coverage simply because they don’t have the right paperwork or don’t know what steps to take to work through the red tape. And it’s especially vital that individuals with disabilities have the support they need to navigate this challenging transition.”

“People with disabilities are more likely to have health issues that require them to use healthcare services at a significantly higher rate than those without disabilities – especially Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with disabilities, having experiences of lower socio-economic status and greater lack of availability to quality healthcare services,” said Theo Braddy, Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living. “The continued enrollment policy of the pandemic made it possible for people with disabilities to rely on Medicaid as their primary health care coverage and to get better, more consistent healthcare that resulted in better health care outcomes. States need to actively reach out to older adults and people with disabilities who may be disenrolled and work to connect them with other providers such as managed care providers.”

“Medicaid is facing existential threats. The Republican ‘Default on America’ bill, the latest GOP attack on health care, could rip Medicaid coverage away from 21 million people. Medicaid unwinding could result in 15 million people losing coverage. It is the responsibility of every state and every governor to be sure that those at risk from Medicaid unwinding who qualify for Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act stay covered,” said Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care. “People with disabilities are at particular risk of falling through the cracks and losing their coverage due to paperwork and red tape. It is critical to understand what’s at risk here – the families, people who are working hard every day, people with disabilities, children, moms who rely on Medicaid could lose access to basic health care.”

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Peter Welch, U.S. Representatives James E. Clyburn, Jan Schakowsky, Gwen Moore, Steve Cohen, Hank Johnson, Judy Chu, Nanette Barragán, Steven Horsford, Shontel Brown, Don Davis, and Dan Goldman Headline Events Across the Nation.

April was the fifth annual Medicaid Awareness Month, and Protect Our Care hosted nationwide events to recognize the crucial role Medicaid plays in Americans’ health care and highlight how recent Republican attacks come at a time when more Americans are relying on the program than ever before. A record 92 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid, which provides affordable care to people from all backgrounds, especially people with disabilities, people with mental health and substance use disorders, children, pregnant women, seniors in nursing homes, rural Americans, and people of color. But Republicans haven’t stopped their attacks, they just passed their extreme “Default on America” Act attempting to rip away health care for 21 million people who rely on Medicaid, and cutting critical health programs by 22 percent. Medicaid has strengthened local economies, provided Americans with access to quality, affordable health care, and improved health outcomes across the country.

Throughout the month, Protect Our Care also released a series of fact sheets on how Medicaid is a lifeline for women and children, communities of color, and rural Americans, as well as fact sheets covering states’ unwinding process,  Republican threats to Medicaid, and the “Default on America” Act.

Medicaid Awareness Month 2023 included the following theme weeks:

• Week 1: Republican threats to Medicaid. Week one focused on how Republicans are actively seeking cuts to Medicaid while GOP leaders in 10 states continue to block Medicaid expansion. 
• Week 2: Medicaid helps women and kids. Week two brought attention to the vital role of Medicaid for mothers and children across the country. 
• Week 3: Medicaid helps people of color and rural Americans. Week three highlighted how Medicaid is a critical tool to expand access to coverage, which together with policies that address other social and structural determinants of health, narrow stark disparities in health care, improve families’ financial security, and make people healthier.
• Week 4: Medicaid helps seniors and people with disabilities. The final week focused on how Medicaid helps seniors and people with disabilities access lifesaving care.

NATIONAL

Monday, March 20 — U.S. Representatives and Tri-Caucus Chairs Nanette Barragán, Judy Chu, and Steven Horsford, joined civil rights leaders and Protect Our Care for a press conference releasing a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calling for state and federal action to keep families in America covered as Medicaid’s continuous coverage requirement ends. The letter stresses the importance of states meeting their obligations to ensure that millions of people in America do not lose critical health care coverage, and calls on HHS to clearly define and enforce states’ legal obligations. You can watch the full event here.

Coverage:

• Colorado Boulevard: Call for HHS Secretary Becerra To Protect Medicaid Coverage During “Unwinding”
• Congressional Black Caucus: Caucus Chairs Call for HHS Secretary Becerra to Protect Medicaid Coverage and Access to Health Care During “Unwinding”

Tuesday, April 11 — Democratic Women’s Caucus Communications Task Force Co-Chairs Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI-04) and Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), and President of the National Partnership for Women & Families Jocelyn Frye joined Protect Our Care for a press conference to discuss the ways Medicaid helps women and children across the nation stay healthy. U.S. Representative Shontel Brown (D-OH-11) said, “Women of color consistently experience higher maternal mortality rates than white women primarily due to the intersection of multiple socio-economic factors, including generations of health inequities, and quite simply, institutional and structural racism. Expanding Medicaid and closing the coverage gap is a key element to improving maternal and reproductive health, especially for women of color.” You can watch the full event here.

Coverage:

• Bloomberg Law: House Democrats Push Back on GOP Proposals Targeting Medicaid

Thursday, April 13 — U.S. Representatives and Co-Chairs of the Medicaid Expansion Caucus, Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), and Don Davis (D-NC-01) joined Protect Our Care for a press conference discussing the urgency for the remaining 10 non-expansion states to follow North Carolina’s lead and finish the job to extend coverage to the estimated 1.9 million Americans in the coverage gap. During the call, the speakers discussed how expansion has never been more important as states face threats of major coverage losses due to the ongoing Medicaid unwinding. You can watch the full event here.

Coverage:

• New York Amsterdam Times: Health Advocates Warn Against Medicaid “Unwinding” Process
• WNCT: Congressmen Talk About Benefits of Medicaid Expansion in NC
• 95.5 WSB: Rep. Hank Johnson Joins a Renewed Push to Expand Medicaid, Including in Georgia

Thursday, April 20 — Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, House Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, and Joan Alker with the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy joined Protect Our Care to discuss Republicans’ radical plan to take health care away from millions of Americans. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy released the Republican plan to slash health care funding and Medicaid enrollment by imposing burdensome paperwork requirements. “The fact is Americans working in modestly-paid jobs often aren’t given affordable health care coverage by their employers,” said Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). “Sometimes they’re working two or three part-time jobs. What House Republicans are essentially asking of these people, who are already on an economic tightrope, is to go out and fill out a mountain of paperwork every single month to maintain their health care. We ought to be looking at approaches that help people get more for their health care dollar.” You can watch the full event here.

Thursday, April 27 — Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), and Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations join Protect Our Care to discuss the Republicans’ ongoing threats and radical plan to cut Medicaid and take health care away from millions. The House Republicans recently passed the Republican plan which imposes cuts in key programs, including slashing health care and other vital discretionary funding and taking Medicaid away from millions by imposing burdensome paperwork requirements in exchange for not defaulting on the nation’s debt. You can watch the full event here.

ARIZONA

Monday, April 3 — PHE Medicaid Unwinding Event with HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, Governor Katie Hobbs, and Arizona Health Care Advocates: Secretary Becerra virtually joined a panel of Arizona health leaders at Ability 360 to discuss efforts to expand access to quality health care, strengthen Medicaid, and promote equity. Additionally, on site, Navigators were available  to update contact information for community attendees. “Because we know from many people who have never had insurance, or never known that they have access to insurance through programs like Medicaid, that oftentimes they don’t know how to navigate the system, they don’t know what they’re entitled to. And they end up not getting the coverage even though they could,” said Secretary Becerra.

Coverage:

• ABC15: Thousands in AZ Lose Medicaid Coverage
• AZ Family (CBS Channel 3 & 5): AZ Residents Losing Medicaid Coverage 
• WLOX (Mississippi): AZ Residents Losing Medicaid Coverage 
• KSAZ-PHX (FOX): Becerra Joins AZ Health Leaders to Discuss Medicaid PHE Unwinding
• KTAZ-TV (Telemundo): Becerra Joins AZ Health Leaders to Discuss Medicaid PHE Unwinding
• KTAR Radio: Becerra Joins AZ Health Leaders to Discuss Medicaid PHE Unwinding 
• NBC 12 News: Arizona Residents at Risk of Losing Medicaid Coverage
• Tucson Sentinel: Arizona begins to shed thousands from Medicaid, push them to other care
• Arizona Capitol Times: State begins to shed thousands from Medicaid, push them to other care
• The Daily Courier (Prescott): Arizona begins to shed thousands from Medicaid, push them to other care
• Cronkite News: State begins to shed thousands from Medicaid, push them to other care

GEORGIA 

Tuesday, April 25 — Medicaid Awareness Month Event with HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson, House Minority Leader James Beverly, Dr. Karen Kinsell, and Georgia Health Care Advocates: Minority Leader James Beverly, HHS Regional Director Antrell Tyson, Georgians for a Healthy Future Executive Director Laura Colbert and Dr. Karen Kinsell, a rural healthcare provider, joined Protect Our Care Georgia to highlight the value of Medicaid and access to health care for Georgians. “The GOP continues to push for reduced health care for the most marginalized members of our population including black and brown people, low-income wage earners, and the elderly. Their approach is one that strips away care from our most vulnerable citizens,” said Representative James Beverly, Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives. “Speaker McCarthy and his counterparts continue to mock democracy by underserving the people. Their health care “plan” will only burden health providers, worsening our health care crisis.” Speakers noted a similar attitude toward Medicaid playing out in Georgia, one of 10 states that hasn’t fully expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, choosing instead to pursue a limited expansion which includes a work requirement. “It is a myth that scores of Georgians are enrolled in Medicaid while actively choosing not to work” said Laura Colbert, Executive Director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• Capitol Beat: Georgia’s Medicaid redetermination process gets rolling 
• WABE-FM: Health Advocates Concerned Georgians Could Lose Medicaid Coverage
• Rome News Tribune: Georgia’s Medicaid redetermination process gets rolling
• WABE-FM: Groups are working to help low-income Georgians avoid losing Medicaid during ‘unwinding’

NEW YORK

Thursday, April 27 — Medicaid Awareness Month Event with Congressman Dan Goldman: Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Protect Our Care New York to highlight that House Republicans from the New York delegation voted for the “Default on America Act” legislation that rips away health care from as many as 21 million people who count on it. Congressman Goldman highlighted how Republicans, like Rep. George Santos (NY-03) and Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), are attacking Medicaid and access to health care as more Americans are relying on the program than ever before. Medicaid has strengthened local economies, provided New Yorkers with access to quality, affordable health care, and improved health outcomes across the state. “New Yorkers need to get out there and make their voices heard and make sure that every Republican member of the New York delegation who voted for this bill has to be held accountable,” said Congressman Goldman. “They’re voting to cut veterans’ care, they’re voting to cut child care, they’re voting to cut assistance for seniors, they’re voting to cut health care, they’re voting to cut food benefits and job programs. People rely on getting these benefits and services to subsist. It’s really emblematic of where Republican’s values are.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Brooklyn’s Rep. Goldman Fights to Protect Medicaid Recipients

VIRGINIA

Saturday, April 15 — Health Care and Medicaid PHE Unwinding Roundtable with State Delegates and Virginia Health Care Advocates: Protect Our Care Virginia joined Virginia state legislators and the Virginia Young Democrats to host a health care roundtable on how we can move forward in our fight to protect and strengthen health care in the face of escalating attacks on vital health care programs that millions of Virginians rely on. Happening during Medicaid Awareness Month, topics this panel discussed are threats to health care access including the recent Braidwood decision that guts the Affordable Care Act’s provision guaranteeing free preventive health care for 150 million Americans, recent rulings limiting access to mifepristone, the impacts of Medicaid unwinding in Virginia, and Republicans attacks on affordable health care. You can watch the event here.

Thursday, April 27 — Medicaid PHE Unwinding Event with Delegate Mark Sickles and Virginia Health Care Advocates: Delegate Mark Sickles and health care advocates joined Protect Our Care Virginia to highlight the current threat to the health care coverage of more than 300,000 Virginians, as Medicaid begins a process called “unwinding.” This event also follows House Republicans passing legislation that rips away health care from as many as 21 million people who count on it, and speakers highlighted how Republicans in Congress are attacking Medicaid and access to health care as more Virginians are relying on the program than ever before. “This is a great challenge for America, not just Virginians, who deal with this unwinding after the public health emergency,” said Delegate Mark Sickles, the former Chair of the Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates. “We need to make sure we are spending this money [for Medicaid] effectively, efficiently and get as close to universal coverage as we can, under this system we have now. So that is what we are working to do.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• Blue Virginia: Video: Delegate Sickles, Health Advocates Discuss Medicaid Unwinding and GOP’s Ongoing Threats following House Passage of Legislation to Take Away Health Care
• Dogwood: House GOP Passes Bill That Would Take Food and Healthcare From Virginia Families
• Cape Charles Mirror (an outlet on the Eastern Shore of Virginia) Medicaid’s impact on rural Americans
• WVTF: Advocates worry thousands of Virginians could lose health insurance as pandemic rules come to an end
• Virginian-Pilot: An estimated 350,000 people will lose Medicaid coverage as Virginia resumes eligibility review

PENNSYLVANIA

Tuesday, April 26 — Morning Call Op-Ed on Medicaid by Action Together NEPA’s Kristin Volchansky on Medicaid: Protect Our Care Pennsylvania placed an opinion piece in the Morning Call by Kristin Volchansky, an advocate with Action Together NEPA, speaking out against proposed Medicaid cuts and the need to expand the program. “April is Medicaid Awareness Month, and while Medicaid provides access to care and financial security to more Americans than ever before, Republicans in Congress are threatening Medicaid by seeking severe cuts in budget negotiations. They are trying to impose burdensome paperwork requirements that could result in people losing coverage even when they are still eligible. Millions of people — seniors, people with behavioral health issues, people with disabilities, moms, children and so many more who rely on this program — could see their health care ripped away under the GOP plan,” Volchansky writes. You can read the full op-ed here.

WISCONSIN

Monday, April 17 — As Goes Wisconsin Radio Show with Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez, North Carolina State Representative Sarah Crawford, and Protect Our Care Wisconsin: Lieutenant Governor Sarah Rodriguez was joined on As Goes Wisconsin by North Carolina State Representative Sarah Crawford to discuss the importance of expanding Medicaid, and highlight lessons from the North Carolina state legislature, which recently approved Medicaid expansion, extending affordable health care to 600,000 North Carolinians. Lieutenant Governor Rodriguez highlighted how Wisconsin could bring $4 billion into the state by expanding BadgerCare, money that Republican lawmakers continue to leave on the table, despite overwhelming support for expansion.”The vast majority of Wisconsinites want us to expand BadgerCare – that includes Democrats and Republicans. We should be doing what the people of Wisconsin want, and that is expanding BadgerCare. It’s time to bring those federal dollars home.” You can listen to this segment of As Goes Wisconsin here. 

Thursday, April 27— Medicaid Awareness Month Event with Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez and Wisconsin Health Care Advocates: Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez joined Protect Our Care Wisconsin for a roundtable discussion to highlight the value of Medicaid and access to health care for Wisconsinites. Speakers callED on state Republicans to finally fully expand Medicaid to bring billions of our tax dollars back to the state and provide an additional 90,000 Wisconsinites with access to quality, affordable health coverage. “It’s long past time for Wisconsin to finally take a leap forward and expand BadgerCare,” said Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez. “Expanding BadgerCare would not only provide healthcare coverage to nearly 90,000 Wisconsinites, including about 30,000 who are currently uninsured, but it would also help us draw down more than $2 BILLION in federal funding and save our state more than $1.6 BILLION over the biennium.” You can watch the event here.

Coverage:

• UpNorthNews: House GOP Passes Bill That Would Take Food and Healthcare From Wisconsin Families

Watch the Full Event Here

Washington, DC – Today, Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), joined Caring Across Generations’ Nicole Jorwic and Protect Our Care for a press conference to discuss the Republicans’ ongoing threats and radical plan to cut Medicaid and take health care away from millions. The House Republicans recently passed the Republican plan which imposes cuts in key programs, including slashing health care and other vital discretionary funding and taking Medicaid away from millions by imposing burdensome paperwork requirements in exchange for not defaulting on the nation’s debt. Read more about how Republicans are demanding health care cuts here. 

A record 92 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid, which provides affordable care to people from all backgrounds. President Biden and Democrats in Congress are working tirelessly to protect Medicaid from GOP attacks and strengthen the program to ensure everyone has the health care they need. April marks the 5th annual Medicaid Awareness Month.

“Medicaid offers essential health coverage to Vermonters who otherwise couldn’t afford health care,” said Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). “The House GOP’s debt plan to attach work requirements to Medicaid would kick thousands off of their health insurance. It would be absolutely detrimental to those who need access to essential care, including seniors and people living with disabilities. I’m thankful for the advocacy work of Protect our Care and Caring Across Generations, and will continue to stand up and protect Medicaid from these misguided cuts.”

“We’re talking about 92 million Americans right now who are enrolled in Medicaid and this is a lifeline for so many people,” said Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09). “Cruelty seems to be the point of these work requirements and in what they did yesterday when they decided to hold our economy hostage and cut the most important benefits. We need to protect our care, we need to protect Medicaid. We have to fight back against these terrible cuts. I do believe that when we fight, we win.”

“I’m frankly pretty upset that we have to be here again because one party continues to go to the Medicaid program to get it to pay for things that help the wealthy corporations or gut the ACA while harming people that I love,” said Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations. “This no good, very bad, ‘Live Grow Save’ bill moves to slash support for Medicaid by over $110 billion dollars by imposing work requirements that are certainly a solution in search of a problem because over 70% of Medicaid beneficiaries are working and the majority of the rest of them are providing care. We shouldn’t have to keep fighting against cuts to these programs at a time when we need to be expanding them.”

“I have been on Medicaid, home and community based services since I was 18,” said Jyll Allen, a patient storyteller from Vermont. “Now Vermont Medicaid and its program called Flexible Choices provide me funding with which to hire my own caregivers. Any cuts to Medicaid really really scare me because the Medicaid home- and community-based waiver has allowed me to be in the community and to access the community as much as I do. I fear that I could lose access to a lot of services that I need and my quality of life would plummet.”

“Republicans should be ashamed that they are more willing to default on the nation’s debt than guarantee affordable health care for families across America,” said Protect Our Care Communications Director Anne Shoup. “Imposing these burdensome paperwork requirements will result in as many as 21 million people losing their health care, throwing patients and hospitals and other providers into chaos as they are forced to pick up the tab. This default bill not only attempts to rip away health care for millions of people who rely on Medicaid, but it also cuts critical health programs by 22 percent. The Republicans have one goal in mind with this legislation: rip away benefits and deny people access to health care.”