{"id":18301,"date":"2018-02-02T15:59:02","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T20:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/?p=18301"},"modified":"2022-07-13T16:10:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T20:10:11","slug":"support-medicaid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/support-medicaid\/","title":{"rendered":"Stop the Assault on Medicaid"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a name=\"top\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #993300\"><strong>Medicaid Work Requirements Jeopardize H<\/strong><strong>ealth and Financial Security of Millions of People<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>updated: February 11, 2018<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;color: #333333\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-18397 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/protect-medicaid-1-420x315.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"323\" height=\"242\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/WHWN-Stop-Assault-on-Medicaid-02-08-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>Contact your US Senators,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>Representative and Governor<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Call your Members of Congress<\/strong>\u00a0&#8211; U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Outreach to governors is especially important in these states where waivers are pending:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>AR, AZ, KS,\u00a0ME, MS, NH, UT, and\u00a0WI<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Find your governor&#8217;s phone number <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nga.org\/cms\/governors\/addresses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000\"><strong>Page Contents <\/strong>(click on a title to go to that section)<strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"#action\">Action N<\/a><\/strong><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"#action\">eeded NOW: What You Can Do<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"#happening\">What You Should Know<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"#spiritual\">Our UU Spiritual Grounding<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"#resources\">Resources and Relevant News Media Coverage Links<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a name=\"action-needed\"><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"action\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>Action Needed NOW: What You Can Do<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18393 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1140-protect-medicaid.imgcache.rev4cc73ee50ad640ab3fa4d140558dda75-1-420x241.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"277\" height=\"159\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1140-protect-medicaid.imgcache.rev4cc73ee50ad640ab3fa4d140558dda75-1-420x241.jpg 420w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1140-protect-medicaid.imgcache.rev4cc73ee50ad640ab3fa4d140558dda75-1-768x441.jpg 768w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1140-protect-medicaid.imgcache.rev4cc73ee50ad640ab3fa4d140558dda75-1-1024x588.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1140-protect-medicaid.imgcache.rev4cc73ee50ad640ab3fa4d140558dda75-1.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 277px) 100vw, 277px\" \/><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><b style=\"color: #993300\">1 \u2013<\/b><span style=\"color: #993300\">\u00a0<strong>Write letters to your US Senators.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><strong>Organize a<span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"http:\/\/salsa4.salsalabs.com\/o\/50780\/p\/salsa\/web\/common\/public\/signup?signup_page_KEY=8693\"> <em>Write Here! Write Now!<\/em> <\/a><\/span>letter-writing table in your congregation for letters to be delivered to SENATE offices in Washington, DC. <\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"http:\/\/salsa4.salsalabs.com\/o\/50780\/p\/salsa\/web\/common\/public\/signup?signup_page_KEY=8693\">Click here to download the letter-writing toolkit for organizers.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff\" href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/WHWN-Stop-Assault-on-Medicaid-02-08-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to download WHWN two-page handout \u00a0(sample message and talking points).<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The UUSJ Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps will deliver letters received by mail and email by 12pm ET February 12. Send an email to\u00a0<strong><a href=\"mailto:advocacy@uusj.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">advocacy@uusj.org<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for more information or to make arrangements for later deliveries. It is essential that each letter include the name, street address and zip code of the constituent.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #993300\"><strong>2 \u2013\u00a0Contact both of your Senators, your Representative and your Governor.<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>It is especially important to contact governors in these states that have waivers pending: AR, AZ, KS,\u00a0ME, MS, NH, UT, and\u00a0WI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>NOTE: Requests for waivers to Medicaid rules, such as adding work requirements, originate with the states. They then have to be approved at the federal level by the Department of Health and Human Services.<\/p>\n<p>To have the most impact, it is important to make our voices heard at the state level with governors and state health administrators. UUSJ does not work at the state level directly; instead works with members of Congress who have influence in key states. Congress will be considering workforce development legislation soon, which may mandate new restrictions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>See below 10 Things to Know about Medicaid to add your own talking points.<\/li>\n<li>Suggested message to adapt for an email message or phone call:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<h4><i>Hi, my name is [your name] I\u2019m a constituent from [city, state].\u00a0<\/i><\/h4>\n<h4><i>I am a Unitarian Universalist from (name of congregation and location). Guided by my faith, I believe that access to affordable, quality healthcare is a human right. <\/i><\/h4>\n<h4><i>(<strong>for US Senators and Representatives:<\/strong> I urge you to oppose\u00a0attempts to add work requirements to the Medicaid program.)<\/i><\/h4>\n<h4><i>(<strong>for governors:<\/strong>\u00a0&#8220;I urge you not to apply for a waiver to add work\u00a0requirements for Medicaid\u00a0beneficiaries.&#8221;)\u00a0<\/i><\/h4>\n<h4><i>Adding the hurdles of repeatedly documenting work and other administrative requirements, and penalties, will cause many eligible people to fall out of the system. This would jeopardize the health and financial security of Americans and put\u00a0children at risk if their parents lost their health benefits. People are more likely to get and hold a job when they are healthy, not the other way around.<\/i><\/h4>\n<h4><em>Stay true to the intent of the Medicaid program to provide health coverage to families and individuals in their time of greatest need.\u00a0<\/em><\/h4>\n<h4><i>Thank you.<br \/>\n<\/i><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><b>Virginia:<\/b><br \/>\nSen. Mark Warner (202) 224-2023<br \/>\nSen. Tim Kaine (202) 224-4024<\/p>\n<p><b>Maryland:<\/b><br \/>\nSen. Ben Cardin (202) 224-4524<br \/>\nSen. Chris Van Hollen (202) 224-4654<\/p>\n<p><b>U.S. Capitol Switchboard:<\/b>\u00a0(202) 224-3121<\/p>\n<p>To find\u00a0<b>Congressional e-mail addresses and contact information for your governor\u00a0<\/b>or other information<b>,<\/b>\u00a0visit these websites:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.senate.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>U.S.\u00a0<\/strong><b>Senate<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.house.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>U.S.\u00a0<\/strong><b>House of Representatives<\/b><\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nga.org\/cms\/governors\/addresses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">List of governors with phone numbers and addresses<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #993300\"><strong>3 \u2013\u00a0Ask your friends and family members to contact their Senators, Representatives and Governors, too.<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Send them the link to this page \u2013\u00a0https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/support-medicaid\/<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #993300\"><strong>4 \u2013<\/strong><b>\u00a0<\/b><strong>Spread the word \u2013\u00a0Post messages to social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Include the link to\u00a0this page\u00a0\u2013 https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/support-medicaid\/<\/p>\n<p>Hashtags \u2013 #Medicaid, #SaveMedicaid, #MedicaidMatters<\/p>\n<p>For more information, see the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/WHWN-Stop-Assault-on-Medicaid-02-08-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UUSJ sample message and talking points<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Go to the Top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"happening\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333399\"><b>What You Should Know<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>For more information, see the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/WHWN-Stop-Assault-on-Medicaid-02-08-2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UUSJ sample message and talking points<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_18407\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-18407\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-18407 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1-420x246.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1-420x246.jpeg 420w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1-768x450.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1-1024x600.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/nejmp1800549_f1.jpeg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-18407\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Work Status of Adult Medicaid Enrollees in 2016 and Main Reasons for Not Working.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Under the Trump Administration, new rules for Medicaid programs managed by the States are being implemented. States can request waivers of current rules to undertake demonstration projects for new requirements that purport to improve the system, reduce costs, and place a focus on personal responsibility by Medicaid beneficiaries. Some states, as well as policymakers, are seeking mandatory work requirements for all Medicaid recipients except those exempt due to illness, disability, or in select programs.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #993300\"><strong>Most adult Medicaid enrollees do work or go to school or are too sick to work, studies show.<\/strong> <\/span>Research does not indicate that working causes good health, but evidence shows that Medicaid helps improve health and makes it easier to find and keep a job, or volunteer in communities.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Proposed changes to Medicaid to require work and add administrative requirements are in direct conflict with the core purpose of Medicaid &#8212; to provide medical assistance to low income people. Medicaid provides healthcare coverage; it is not welfare.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The great majority of Medicaid recipients already work; <\/b>most that don\u2019t are ill or disabled, going to school, taking care of home or family, or retired.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Two states<\/b> (<span style=\"color: #993300\"><a style=\"color: #993300\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/issue-brief\/approved-changes-to-medicaid-in-kentucky\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KY<\/a><\/span> and <span style=\"color: #993300\"><a style=\"color: #993300\" href=\"https:\/\/khn.org\/news\/indiana-gets-federal-approval-for-medicaid-plan-that-could-slice-enrollment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IN<\/a><\/span>)<b> have already received approval to add work and other requirements;<\/b> AR, AZ, KS,\u00a0<span style=\"color: #993300\"><a style=\"color: #993300\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/issue-brief\/proposed-medicaid-section-1115-waivers-in-maine-and-wisconsin\/\">ME<\/a><\/span>, MS, NH, UT, and\u00a0<span style=\"color: #993300\"><a style=\"color: #993300\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/issue-brief\/proposed-medicaid-section-1115-waivers-in-maine-and-wisconsin\/\">WI<\/a><\/span>\u00a0are seeking approval of the same.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Work requirements for Medicaid recipients will remove benefits from many who are ill, disabled, or caring for family members.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Other changes include \u201clock-out\u201d provisions so that those who do not meet new work requirements will not be eligible to resume coverage for six months after they complete a \u201cre-determination process\u201d leaving them vulnerable to health and financial risk<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Slashing Medicaid will undermine efforts to curtail the opioid crisis,<\/b> which killed 42,000 Americans last year. Medicaid covers nearly 4 of 10 nonelderly adults with opioid addiction. See <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/infographic\/medicaids-role-in-addressing-opioid-epidemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/strong> for infographic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/fact-sheet\/medicaid-pocket-primer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0signed into law in 1965 by President Johnson, is a joint federal\/state health insurance program that covers low-income populations with limited resources and often complex health needs. The federal government provides matching dollars to states for allowable spending on Medicaid, and states design and administer their programs within a set of federal standards and broad state options. Beyond these options, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) is authorized to waive certain program requirements and to provide federal Medicaid funding for options not otherwise allowed under law for approaches the Secretary determines promote the objectives of the program.<\/p>\n<p>Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/fact-sheet\/state-medicaid-expansion-approaches\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opted to expand their Medicaid programs<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>under the Affordable Care Act. These program expansions have improved coverage; access to care, utilization, affordability, and health outcomes; and had positive economic outcomes. (<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/issue-brief\/the-effects-of-medicaid-expansion-under-the-aca-updated-findings-from-a-literature-review-september-2017\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>The Effects of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA<\/em><\/a><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p>Yet, there is significant uncertainty regarding the future of the Medicaid program. The Trump Administration and Republican leaders in Congress have called for fundamental changes that\u00a0would limit federal financing through a block grant or per capita cap, and reduce federal standards and increase state flexibility. <strong>The changes they seek include a roll back of the Medicaid expansion, caps on federal Medicaid spending increases, and added work requirements, drug testing, time limits, copays and premiums to some state Medicaid programs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In order to test Medicaid changes, states can submit Section 1115 waiver requests to the Department of Health and Human Services. Some requests are designed to expand eligibility. Others\u00a0impose restrictions, work requirements and restrictive penalties on Medicaid recipients.<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/health-science\/kentucky-becomes-the-first-state-allowed-to-impose-medicaid-work-requirement\/2018\/01\/12\/b7b56e3e-f7b4-11e7-b34a-b85626af34ef_story.html?utm_term=.64042709b487\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kentucky<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/khn.org\/news\/indiana-gets-federal-approval-for-medicaid-plan-that-could-slice-enrollment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indiana<\/a><\/strong> have been granted waivers that\u00a0generally require beneficiaries to verify their participation in approved activities, such as employment, job search, or job training programs (&#8220;community engagement&#8221;), for a certain number of hours per week in order to receive health coverage. Eight other states have submitted similar waiver requests (AR, AZ, IN, KS,\u00a0ME, MS, NH, UT, and\u00a0WI).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18411 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid-1024x598.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid-1024x598.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid-420x245.jpg 420w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid-768x448.jpg 768w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/10_things_Medicaid.jpg 1604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Go to the Top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"spiritual\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333399\"><b>Our UU Spiritual Grounding<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-18394 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1-420x424.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"209\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1-420x424.jpg 420w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1-768x775.jpg 768w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1-1015x1024.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/DDQv9CrXYAID3j_-1.jpg 1189w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 209px) 100vw, 209px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"m_-3434502305179577724gmail-m_436371780858125661x_x_divtagdefaultwrapper\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<div>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UUs are committed to promote policies that address the inequities in our economic mainstream and assure that all individuals have access to affordable, high-quality health care.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"m_-3434502305179577724gmail-m_436371780858125661x_x_divtagdefaultwrapper\" dir=\"ltr\">\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Based on our Religious Principles, we:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">believe in a national health care system that provides quality care, accessible and affordable to all;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">oppose attempts to reduce the access or quality of Medicaid given its significant role as the primary health care option for our country\u2019s most vulnerable populations;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">oppose attempts to jeopardize the healthcare infrastructure now in place under ACA;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">urge protection of mandatory essential benefits. A specific concern is women\u2019s reproductive health coverage and access to healthcare as provided for in the ACA;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">insist on a democratic process that is open and transparent when legislating healthcare.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>UUSJ believes that work requirements and other means to reduce access to Medicaid coverage\u00a0represent a serious set-back to improving health, especially for those who are least able to afford healthcare. We believe that good health contributes to the ability to get and hold a job, and that administrative barriers to access, including work requirements and fees with restrictive penalties for those who cannot afford to pay or who missed premium payments, are a violation of the purpose of Medicaid and should be resisted as counterproductive.\u00a0The threat of loss of healthcare coverage, with the resulting risk of untreated illness, disability, death or financial ruin, should not be used as a lever to change behavior.\u00a0<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Go to the Top<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"resources\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #333399\"><b>Resources and Relevant News Media Coverage Links<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/medicaid\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Families USA &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/familiesusa.org\/product\/medicaid-waivers-webinar-work-requirements-and-beyond\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid Waivers Webinar: Work Requirements and Beyond<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Coalition on Human Needs &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chn.org\/2018\/01\/12\/17738\/#.WnwOra6nGUk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump&#8217;s Medicaid Work Requirements: Meet Real Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Protect Our Care &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/protectourcare.us\/stories\/medicaid-stories\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid Stories<\/a><\/li>\n<li>New England Journal of Medicine &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nejm.org\/doi\/full\/10.1056\/NEJMp1800549?query=TOC&amp;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Can Work Be Required in the Medicaid Program?<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Center on Budget and Policy Priorities\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/health\/medicaid-work-requirements-will-reduce-low-income-families-access-to-care-and-worsen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid Work Requirements Will Reduce Low-Income Families&#8217; Access to Care and Worsen Health Outcomes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbpp.org\/research\/health\/how-medicaid-work-requirements-will-harm-people-with-disabilities-and-serious\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How Medicaid Work Requirements Will Harm People with Disabilities and Serious Illnesses<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Forbes &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/howardgleckman\/2018\/01\/19\/what-medicaids-work-requirement-means-for-seniors-people-with-disabilities-and-their-caregivers\/#212a3c65206c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">What Medicaid&#8217;s Work Requirement Means for Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Their Caregivers<\/a><\/li>\n<li>New York Times &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2018\/01\/18\/upshot\/medicaid-enrollment-obstacles-kentucky-work-requirement.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hate Paperwork? Medicaid Recipients Will Be Drowning in It<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Axios &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/medicaid-work-requirements-welfare-reform-1516718792-473124da-0451-4c4f-8359-77069043b984.html?utm_campaign=KFF-2018-jan25-Drew-AxiosMedicaid-work-not-welfare-rfm&amp;utm_source=hs_email&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=60215684&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9dOSMXioaMKZGaYrPeYsPCwSprHuKOIVAaQilcr8fcccfoc9rjRjzvtpaVVskhQ1nZQmOsxbygrRIJbIx36j74Ks6A8A&amp;_hsmi=60215684\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Medicaid Work Requirements Aren&#8217;t the Same as Welfare Reform<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/011818-Wyden-Senate-Democrats-Letter-to-Hargan-on-Medicaid-Waiver-Authority.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Senate letter to Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Hargan<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Kaiser Family Foundation (infographics) &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/infographic\/medicaids-role-in-addressing-opioid-epidemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid&#8217;s Role in Addressing the Opioid Epidemic<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Vox &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/policy-and-politics\/2018\/1\/17\/16897122\/senate-republicans-medicaid-opioid-epidemic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Senate Republicans are Trying to Blame Medicaid for the Opioid Epidemic<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The Pew Charitable Trusts &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.pewtrusts.org\/en\/research-and-analysis\/analysis\/2017\/11\/29\/urgent-action-needed-to-address-the-opioid-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Urgent Action Needed to Address the Opioid Crisis<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The Hill\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/healthcare\/372181-medicaid-work-requirements-will-reduce-care-for-mentally-ill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Medicaid Work Requirements Will Reduce Care for Mentally Ill<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/policy\/healthcare\/368823-five-things-to-know-about-medicaid-work-requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Five Things to Know About Medicaid Work Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Fact Sheets (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) &#8211;\n<ul>\n<li>Medicaid Works for\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1-19-18health-factsheet-children.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Children<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1-19-18health-factsheet-seniors.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Seniors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1-19-18health-factsheet-suds.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">People with Substance Use Disorders<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/1-19-18health-factsheet-rural.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">People in Rural Communities<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chn.org\/issues\/protecting-basic-needs-programs-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizational statements on Medicaid work requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Indivisible &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indivisible.org\/resource\/trumps-latest-attack-medicaid-work-requirements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trump&#8217;s Latest Attack on Medicaid: Work Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Go to the Top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Medicaid Work Requirements Jeopardize Health and Financial Security of Millions of People updated: February 11, 2018 Contact your US Senators,\u00a0Representative and Governor Call your Members of Congress\u00a0&#8211; U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 Outreach to governors is especially important in these states where waivers are pending: AR, AZ, KS,\u00a0ME, MS, NH, UT, and\u00a0WI Find your governor&#8217;s &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/support-medicaid\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Stop the Assault on Medicaid<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,29,11],"tags":[1535,1495,34,1674,46],"class_list":["post-18301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advocacy","category-economic-justice","category-health","tag-advocacy","tag-economic-justice","tag-healthcare","tag-medicaid","tag-social-justice"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18301"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24801,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18301\/revisions\/24801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18301"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}