***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 AT 10:00 AM ET // 9:00 AM CT***
PRESS CALL: U.S. Reps Jim Clyburn & Robin Kelly to Call for Action On Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap in Upcoming American Families Plan Legislation
Call Will Demonstrate Need for a Federal Solution To Give Millions of Americans, Including 2.4 Million People of Color, Access to Health Care in States That Have Refused To Expand Medicaid
Washington, DC — On Wednesday, U.S. House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06) and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) will join Protect Our Care for a press call advocating for federal action to close the Medicaid coverage gap. To date, Republican leaders in 12 states have rejected Medicaid expansion, blocking millions of people from access to coverage.
Research confirms that Medicaid expansion increases access to care, improves financial security, and leads to better health outcomes. Medicaid expansion has played a vital role in reducing racial disparities in health care access and has served as a critical safety net during the pandemic. However, in the 12 states that have failed to expand Medicaid, four million uninsured people have been locked out of this essential coverage option. At least 2.4 million people of color, 500,000 people with disabilities and almost a million older Americans who are currently uninsured could gain Medicaid coverage if the remaining states adopted Medicaid expansion.
The press call comes after leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus, which includes the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), joined more than 60 of their colleagues on a letter to Congressional leadership and President Biden calling for adopting a federal solution to close the coverage gap in the upcoming American Families Plan legislation. The letter reads: “Closing this gap is one of the single most important steps we can take to reduce health inequities across the United States.”
PRESS CALL:
WHO:
U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC-06), House Majority Whip
U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02)
Leslie Dach, Chair of Protect Our Care
Yvette Fontenot, Policy and Legislative Affairs Consultant for Protect Our Care
WHAT: Virtual Press Conference to Call for Action on Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap
WHERE: Register for the Event Here
WHEN: Wednesday, June 23 at 10:00 AM ET // 9:00 AM CT