#NursesResist

All the talk about repealing the U.S. Affordable Care Act (ACA) is scary stuff for those of us who are concerned about those who would be harmed immeasurably if this were to happen.  Of course this is a U.S.-specific problem, but all countries face ongoing threats that weaken healthcare systems worldwide (for example, the U.K. “Brexit” initiative is a significant threat for their National Health Service). Here in the U.S. we are at least a bit encouraged by the signs that repealing our fledgling ACA may not be easy – that the voices of the people letting MoCs s (members of Congress) know that this is not a good idea – may be getting through.  However, as Rachel Maddow has been advising us for weeks now – watch what they DO, not what the say. In fact one of the most damaging things we can do is to repeat over and over what they say, which only reinforces their message.

So fortunately, we have folks stepping up to help us watch what they do, and giving us leads about what we can do about it.  When, just a few days ago, Tom Price, avid opponent of the ACA, became Secretary of Health and Human Services, put up a proposal to make it harder and more expensive to get coverage under the ACA, and also supporting DJT’s executive order that gives insurers freedom to deny and limit benefits for those who already have it – most of the public had no way to know that this was happening.  The brand new DCReport.org, established by David Cay Johnston, is filling this void.  Read the report on the new ACA proposal here – Administration Moves To Block Access To Health Insurance.  Here is the action box that accompanies this report:

Citizens have until March 7 to weigh in on the new rule. Use the rule-making code CMS-9929-P in any correspondence.

Write: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services / Department of Health & Human Services / Attention: CMS-9929-P / P.O. Box 8016 / Baltimore, MD 21244-8016. The phone number is 410-786-7195.

You can also comment online. This link will take you to the text of the proposed rule. There is a comment button on the right.

Of course this is not a dramatic, showy kind of action, and it certainly will not remove the threat that our country is facing. But if nobody speaks up now, then this administration will be further emboldened to continue down a damaging path.  We can at least put them on alert by sending strong and clear messages that they do not have a mandate to continue.

We will continue to alert all NurseManifesters of actions we can take related to health and healthcare – but to stay alert for any issues that concerns you, follow DCReport.org, and other trusted news sources that help guide your own actions.

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