The Senate has put the American Health Care Act on a fast track for passage. The form this bill will take is unclear. CSWA encourages all members to contact a small group of moderate Republicans who may determine the fate of mental health coverage and Medicaid coverage. Please review the posts CSWA sent on May 4 and May 25 on these topics.
Below are the office numbers, twitter accounts, and Facebook accounts for these senators. Please take a moment to send the messages CSWA has provided.
As always, let me know when your messages have been sent.
Laura Groshong, LICSW, CSWA Director, Policy and Practice
Clinical Social Work Association The National Voice of Clinical Social Work Strengthening IDENTITY | Preserving INTEGRITY | Advocating PARITY
URGE KEY SENATORS TO OPPOSE AHCA UNLESS MEDICAID AND MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE
Senators are considering the American Health Care Act (AHCA) in preparation for a possible vote by the 4th of July. As passed by the House, the AHCA would repeal major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (aka Obamacare) by:
· Ending the guaranteed coverage of substance use disorders and mental health treatment services
· Cutting Medicaid by $880 billion and stripping more than 20 million people of their health insurance
With very narrow margins in the Senate, it will only take 3 Senators to stop the AHCA without protections for substance use disorders and mental health treatment from passing the Senate.
Call these Senators today to ask them to oppose the AHCA without protections for substance use disorders and mental health.
A list of key decision-making Senators to call is below:
Sample call script:
I am a constituent [if you are] and a member of the Clinical Social Work Association. Please urge the Senator to oppose the AHCA bill without required coverage for mental health disorders, substance use disorders, and with caps to Medicaid. These policies would increase costs for everyone and cause emotional suffering for those who need help.
Social Media
You can also contact senators through social media. Social media handles for key Senators are listed below:
Sample Twitter Posts
@[Twitter Handle]: I ask you to oppose the #AHCA without protections for substance use disorders and #mentalhealth.
Please #VoteNoAHCA.
Note: the period in front of the Twitter handle is important to ensure that it is posted visibly on the senators' page.
Sample Facebook Posts
In the face of the #opioid overdose and suicide epidemics, equal and affordable access to a full continuum of substance use disorder and mental health treatment services must be an essential component of health care coverage.
#Medicaid coverage is a critical lifeline for millions of Americans with substance use disorders and #mentalillness. Cutting or capping Medicaid and ending the Medicaid expansion will be devastating to those who can’t afford health care in the private market.
[Facebook handle], please ensure that no American loses the access to life-saving substance use disorder and mental health treatment that they have today.
I ask you to #VoteNoAHCA.
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