Mississippians are urged to join a national event Tuesday that allows for concerns to be voiced ahead of Congress voting on the American Health Care Act, which is an attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Health Care Act, implemented during the Obama administration.
National Call-In Day allows citizens to tell Congress how they stand regarding the AHCA, and ask them to vote accordingly. While some calls will ask to protect Medicaid and healthcare for millions of Americans by opposing the AHCA, others will ask for their lawmakers to support the legislation.
Senior officials in the Trump Administration have announced that the House of Representatives will vote on Wednesday, May 3, for an amended version of the American Health Care Act (AHCA).
According to Mandy Rogers, a Mississippi advocate for health care for those with disabilities, these amendments have made the bill even worse for people with disabilities and eliminates many of the protections for people with pre-existing conditions enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during the Obama Administration.
“From what I understand, this bill is going to put a 25% cut on Medicaid,” said Rogers. “If they take away that money, some of the people impacted may have to rely on an institution, or be admitted somewhere by a family member.”
Rogers said the recent budget woes with the Department of Mental Health, leading to the closure of some beds and facilities, furthers her concerns with the bill.
The Executive Office of the President’s office of Management and Budget says this bill will strengthen healthcare across the country.
“The Administration strongly supports H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA). This bill begins to fulfill the President’s commitment to rescue Americans from the failures of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and expand access to affordable, quality healthcare,” said the Management and Budget Office in a statement.
“The AHCA offers patient-centered healthcare solutions that will promote innovation, reduce health insurance premiums, and empower doctors and patients to make healthcare choices.”
The office explained the AHCA would provide tax credits for Americans to promote affordability; improve Medicaid’s sustainability and target resources to those most in need; and return healthcare choices to patients by expanding the use of health savings accounts.
For those wishing to participate in National Call In Day, there are various lines of contact:
Call your Congressional Representative: 202-224-3121
Call House Speaker Ryan: 202-225-0600
Contact your governor: https://www.usa.gov/state-governor
If you need help figuring out who your Representative is, go to www.house.gov.
