Uninsured,
Underinsured,
WORRIED
you may loose your insurance or do you pay to much for your Health Insurance
Join us by adding your voice and tell our legislators:
Health Care Is A Right !
Please join us at:
Neighborhood Family Practice
3569 Ridge Rd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday
at
6:00 pm.
Our next meeting will be
June 11, 2013
WHAT WILL THE "EXCHANGE" MEAN TO YOU
The Affordable Care Act ensures:
Americans have access to quality, affordable health insurance. To achieve this goal, the law ensures that health plans offered in the individula and small group markets, both inside and outside the Affordable Insurance
Exchange.
Exchanges offer a comprehensive package of the items and services known as:
"Essential Health Benefits". |
The mission of We Are the Uninsured is to bring the voices of the uninsured together to educate the community, and the policy makers on the impact that being uninsured has on each person, and on our community in order to bring about change.
Neighborhood Family Practice created We Are the Uninsured (WATU), a grass roots advocacy group of uninsured patients for the purpose of empowering the uninsured to use their voice to advocate for access to healthcare through health coverage reform. WATU has grown to include uninsured individuals and their families from throughout the Cleveland area. The group was formed for patients and uninsured people to come together to correct public misconceptions of the uninsured as lazy or unemployed, and to bring the problems that uninsured individuals encounter to the attention of our elected leaders.
Neighborhood Family Practice is a nonprofit community health center providing quality primary health care services to patients of all ages on the West Side of Cleveland, OH. We accept patients with Medicaid HMO's, commercial health insurance, Medicare and offer a sliding fee scale for patients without health insurance. Our sites are located in Cleveland's Stockyards and Tremont neighborhoods.
Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP) our midwives provide safe, personal care in the neighborhood. We have delivered over 300 babies and have a C-section rate of less than 10% - compared to the National rate of 32%. Our program is strong and growing!
For more information regarding this program or several others contact our Patient Advocates at 216-281-8945
Alison ext. 283
Jackie ext. 266
Check out our story page and add your story to ensure that the public and our elected officials has an opportunity to see the impact on people who do not have access to quality health care.
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Your weekly source for Health Center policy updates March 5, 2013
Sequestration has happened, what’s next?
Monday morning health center advocates received an email update about the now enacted sequester and what this means for health centers. The fiscal year 2013 appropriations process is now health centers' top advocacy priority, and an opportunity to restore sequester cuts. Advocates will need to contact Congress over the next few weeks, leading up to the March 27th Continuing Resolution deadline. Take action now by calling your Members of Congress toll-free --1-866-456-3949 -- and ask them to support $3.1 billion in funding for Health Centers in FY2013! Click here to send your Members of Congress an email.
TeleForum Phone Call This Friday, March 8th, 2:00pm Eastern Time
Don’t miss this free opportunity to learn more about the appropriations process and how you can help restore health center funding! The call is free and open to all. Click here to make sure you are signed up to receive this Friday's TeleForum call.
Health Center Advocates Needed in D.C.!
NACHC’s 2013 Policy & Issues Forum, March 20-23, is quickly approaching, and we need you there! This month is a critical time for advocates to meet with Members of Congress to tell their health center’s story, and share the ongoing need for continued and increased access to care. Congress is slated to make key decisions this month that will affect each and every health center, meaning P&I could not come at a more essential time. Please plan to visit with your Members of Congress in D.C. during the Policy & Issues forum this month.
Health Center Board Advocacy Committees
Steven L. Evans, MSM, current staff and former board member at New Horizon Family Health Services, Inc. in Greenville, South Carolina, reflects on the role of health center board members as advocates in this guest blog post. NACHC Policy & Issues Forum attendees will have the opportunity to hear Mr. Evans present on this topic in D.C. on Friday, March 22, at 3:30pm – click here to register for the conference.
Media Spotlight
It’s been a busy week for NACHC in the media, check out some the stories below:
Nonprofit Quarterly featured a piece on the sequester’s threat to access to Community Health Centers.
Kaiser Health News quoted NACHC in their article on budget cuts to medical research, FDA, and mental health programs.
Watch ABC 27’s report on the impact of the sequester on Community Health Centers.
Read The Wichita Eagle’s piece about local area health centers facing a cut in funding due to the sequester.
Read the Washington Post Wonkblog, featuring NACHC, about the sequester and what the cuts might mean.
Check it out, Governor Christie says Community Health Centers play a significant role in health care access.
Tweet of the Week
Connie Bishop @dewkie: #sequester #fqhc Stop the sequester $120 mil cuts to health centers could deny 900,000 people from care they otherwise could not afford
Thanks to everyone who posted and shared health center advocacy messages online over the past two weeks! Your work has helped us spread the message far and wide, and all advocates who took action to speak out against the sequester have helped lay the foundation for health centers’ FY2013 appropriations request this month.
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www.NACHC.org www.SaveOurCHCs.org
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National Association of Community Health Centers
7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1100W, Bethesda, MD 20814
You are subscribed to this organization's email list as rventura@nfpmedcenter.org. If you did not subscribe, or would no longer like to receive email updates, click here to unsubscribe. |
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Call To Action
Join Ohio Citizen Advocates, supporters, and organizations across the state by calling and emailing Ohio State Representatives to support the expansion of Medicaid to 138% as allowable by the Affordable Care Act.
Our goal is to show the Ohio House of Representatives that Ohioans support Medicaid expansion.
Our message to legislators is simple: Please support the Expansion Medicaid to 138% as allowable by the Affordable Care Act. We can’t afford not to expand coverage.
Step 1: Join us for a statewide call-in day to advocate for the expansion of Medicaid on Wednesday, February 27th, 2013. We are asking you to call your representative as this is the most effective advocacy method.
Instructions for the statewide call-in:
- Click here to find your Representative's phone number. Under the “Member Search” category, fill in your zip code to get your Representative’s contact information.
- Call the number and use the sample script included below. Also, please let your Representative know why the expansion of Medicaid is important to you personally. It will make your message more effective.
Message:
“I’m calling to urge Representative (insert Rep’s name) to support the expansion of Medicaid to 138% as allowable by the Affordable Care Act. Expanding Medicaid will ensure additional access for Ohioans in need of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services. This expansion would improve the health and safety of Ohio’s communities while providing the single largest investment in the alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health system in many years. The expansion of Medicaid will also help to ensure a healthier workforce for Ohio. I urge you to support the expansion of Medicaid included in the biennial budget.”
If you are unable to join us for the statewide call-in day on Wednesday, it is still important that you call your legislator sometime this week.
Step 2: Please share this information and link (http://bit.ly/XB0skE) with your coworkers, family, and friends. Also, share this information with your friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.
Step 3: If you are unable to call your Representative, please send an email expressing your support for the expansion of Medicaid.
Instructions for email:
- Click here.
- Fill out name and email address. You also have the option to add your mailing address to the email.
- It is important that you personalize this email: let your Representative know why the expansion of Medicaid is important to you personally or people with substance use disorder who have no health coverage!. It will make your message more effective.
For your convenience, here are some bullet points to augment your message:
- “The 2014/2015 state budget is an opportunity to rebuild the community behavioral health system, to cement Ohio’s status as one of the premier states in the nation for workforce growth and development."
- “With Medicaid expansion, we can begin to rebuild Ohio’s alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health safety-net system so individuals with mental illness and/or addiction can succeed, find a job and become contributing members of society. As a result, our communities will be safe and prosper.”
Thank you for emailing, making calls, spreading the word, and your commitment to strengthening families and communities in Ohio.
Ohio Citizen Advocates
6797 N. High St. - Suite 238
Columbus, OH 43085
(614) 486-2430
advocate@oca-ohio.org
www.oca-ohio.org |
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What happens under Health Reform
2010:
1. MEDICARE PART D
prescription drug rebate of $250.00 fro people in the doughnut hole.
2. Tax credits for small businesses of 35% of premiums.
3. Health insurance companies can no longer;
A. Cap you health care lifetime
B. Deny children coverage because of pre-existing conditions
C. Drop your coverage because you need medical care
D. have annual caps in new policies
4. The Federal Government will set up a special insurance program for adults with pre-existing conditions.
5. Dependents mat stay on their parents' group insurance policy until the age of 26.
6. New policies must cover preventive screenings and testing with no co-pays allowed.
7. New rules govern hospitals' "Charity Care Policies" and BAN certain collection policies.
8. New rules what a hospital can charge an uninsured person.
9. Much more money for community health centers who serve the uninsured.
2011:
1. Medicare Part D 50% rebate on on brand name drugs for those in the doughnut hole
2. Insurance companies
MUST:
A. No co-payments or deductibles for preventative services
B. Spend 80%-85% of the premium dollar on actual medical care.
3. Medicare covers wellness and preventive medicine
4. Increased reimbursement for primary care
5. A long term insurance program begins ( CLASS )
6. It will be easier to file a complaints against nursing homes and to appeal insurance company denials.
2012:
1. Reducing avoidable hospital readmissions
2. Providing new, voluntary options for long term care insurance.
3. Linking payments to quality healthcare
outcomes.
4. Transitioning to reform payments in Medicare Advantage.
5. Encouraging Integrated Health Systems:
6. Employers must report the value of health coverage on employees W2's
Implemenmts physcians payment reforms that enhance payments for primary care services and encourages physcians to join together to form "Accountable Care Organizations" to gain efficiencies and improve the quality of care.
If you have benefited from the Affordable Care Act please go to our story page and upload your story !!!
WE NEED YOUR VOICE!!!
WE NEED YOU!!!
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EXPANDING MEDICAID CAMPAIGN
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE OHIO TO EXPAND MEDICAID
WHY?
THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID WOULD COVER 600,000 OHIOIANS
THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID FOR THOSE UP TO 138% OF POVERTY ($11,170-family of one -$23,050-family of four) WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY CURRENTLY SPENT IN OHIO TO COVER THE UNINSURED.
- FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, MEDICAID COVERAGE WILL BE AVAIABLE TO CHILDLESS ADULTS, MORE WORKNIG PARENTS, AND MOST PEOPOLE CURRENTLY ON SPEND-DOWN.
- THE FEDERAL SHARE OF THIS EXPANSION (100% IN 2014-2016 & ON AVERGAE BY 95% UNTIL 2019) WILL HELP MAKE UP FOR THE DOLLARS THAT OHIO HOSPITALS WILL LOSE WHEN FUNDING FOR THE UNINSURED (disproportionate care dollars) ARE REDUCED IN 2014.
- OHIO WILL SAVE MONEY IN OTHER WAYS, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE COST OF MEDICAL CARE FOR PRISIONERS COVERED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BUDGET.
Exchanges
offer a comprehensive package of the items and services known as:
Essential Health Benefits
Essential Health Benefits must include items and services within at least the 10 following catagories:
1.Ambulatory Patient Services
2.Emergency Services
3.Hospitalization
4.Maternity and Newborn Care
5.Mental Health and Substance use & Disorder services, including behavioral health treatment
6. Prescription Drug Coverage
7. Rehabilitative Services and Devices
8. Laboratory Services
9. Preventative and Wellness Services and Chronic Disease Management
10. Pediatric Services, including Oral and Vision
Refferenced: 1998-2011 Consumers Union: Policy and Action Reports
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