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Tag Archives: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
in solidarity … 2014
just another rant
If you believe in moving into the 21st Century, believe in health care being accessible to all , if you believe it is a right not a privilege or that the overhaul to health care is long overdue; then you are on the right side of history. 
However, members of Congress are portraying the ACA as a law for the poor though most parents with kids in college would say they are not poor or rich and having their children covered until 26 is a relief. The law is not perfect, but Medicare PartD is still here far from perfect, lest we talk about that Donut Hole that has hurt our seniors in ways Congress refuses to deal with, it goes without saying that hearing the donut hole will stay in place until 2020 is sad.
I would like members of Congress to tell voters why they are against the idea that 32mil more people will have access to a health care system that will need more doctors, PA, and those great nurses who we usually see when we feel bad. Think about it, what does it take to run a Hospital?
Our 
current workforce cannot possibly handle that many new customers and will need to hire more folks from the so-called bottom up for the grounds, parking lots, security, maintenance, janitors, gardeners to receptionists, and more.
The Affordable Care Act has been batted abused trashed and voted against by the GOP over 40 times. The odd thing leading up to each vote, is that the facts did not seem to get into the way of Congress nor did they care that #ACA is the law of the land. Republicans chose to call it a bill, deny it has helped adults with pre-existing conditions, seniors and parents with kids under 26. It is beyond offensive that these votes not only cost Americans money to hold but a law that has been challenged and SCOTUS upheld actually seems like a travesty of our democracy then Rep.TedCruz decided to take $24 Billion out of the House of Representatives to make some sort of point against the Affordable Care Act. I do not know about you but I wonder where is the $24Billion outrage, the demand for more explanations about who is going to pay it back. Americans should be demanding the GOP give up whatever they have planned to cover that $24BillionGOPShutdown.
I ask voters, if you are concerned at all about the $24Billion 17day RepTedCruz waged on us why stay silent.
I hope folks wonder who will ultimately pay for it and why the media conveniently keeps bypassing all questions about the shutdown. I want answers from Rep.TedCruz and he should be forced to take responsibility and most Americans should demand that any deals coming from the GOP be reconciled against that $24Billion 17 day #ACA shutdown.
I cannot begin to list the impact of 32million more people added to the new health care system, but it is obvious that the Affordable Care Act is also a jobs creator.
In Solidarity … we must get off the sidelines and fight back
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6,000 transportation and hospitality workers to earn a living wage ~~ The other Washington
Did you know that the fight for a living wage is taking place right here in Washington state?
While fast food workers across the nation are demanding higher wages, Proposition 1, the Good Jobs Initiative, will be on the November ballot in SeaTac.
It will enable more than 6,000 transportation and hospitality workers to earn a living wage and enjoy common sense benefits, like paid sick leave.
Two weeks ago, 20 elected Democrats, including Rep. Adam Smith and King County Executive Dow Constantine, endorsed a Yes vote on SeaTac Proposition 1.
The Yes for SeaTac campaign needs our help. Can you knock on doors and help spread the word about SeaTac Proposition 1?
What: Yes for SeaTac’s Democrats Weekend!
When: October 12th or 13th, 9am-5pm
Where: Riverton United Methodist Church
3118 S 140th St. Tukwila
SeaTac Proposition 1 is endorsed by community organizations, faith groups, and labor unions.
Prop 1:
…provides up to 5 days of paid sick leave for full-time airport employees, preventing the spread of dangerous disease and keeping our families and community safe.
…incentivizes airport-related businesses to employ full time workers, creating jobs our neighbors can count on to make ends meet.
…requires SeaTac hotels and hotel restaurants to do the right thing and give tips and service charges to the employees who perform the actual services.
…ensures that SeaTac residents employed at and around the airport can receive a living wage of $15, helping them make ends meet.
…exempts small businesses in SeaTac. Prop 1 specifically exempts SeaTac restaurants, grocery stores, and all other small businesses.
Stand with SeaTac workers and sign up to help the Yes for SeaTac campaign today.
Sincerely,
Jaxon Ravens
Executive Director
Washington State Democrats
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We did it!
HCAN Supporter,
After a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for progressives to run a grassroots-powered, $60 million successful push for health reform, HCAN is bringing its five-and-a-half year campaign to a close at the end of 2013.
We want to thank all of HCAN’s partner organizations, allies and activists who led the fight to pass and implement the Affordable Care Act. Hundreds of thousands of people like you demonstrated the grassroots support needed to end the insurance industry’s stranglehold on our health care.
You sent hundreds of thousands of letters to your senators and representatives, gathered millions of petition signatures telling them to do the right thing, and made a remarkable number of phone calls to Capitol Hill. Without you, our coalition wouldn’t have won the biggest expansion of access health care in the last half century.
You did this. Your actions made this possible. You told Congress that America needed health care reform now. Thanks to you, we got it.
Online enrollment is back on track and millions are signing up for quality, affordable health care – many for the first time. There is still work to be done, and we need to keep fighting. We don’t imagine that Republicans and the tea party are going to stop attacking the law any time soon. We hope you will remain involved in the fight to support health care reform and build a strong middle class. To learn more, please visit HCAN’s leadership organizations in the links listed below.
Best wishes from all of us at Health Care for America Now.
American Federation of Teachers
Communications Workers of America
Leadership Center for the Common Good
National Education Association
United Food and Commercial Workers
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What Truly Matters: Ensuring All Americans Have Access to Quality Affordable Health Care
Buenas tardes,
Over the last several weeks the President has highlighted the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). With HealthCare.gov now working smoothly for the vast majority of consumers, our top priority is to ensure that every eligible American who wants access to insurance is able to get it. We are two months into a six month open enrollment period and are laser-focused on continuing to reach as many Americans as possible to let them know about their new health care options and the various ways in which they can enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace.
The need for and interest in affordable health insurance extends across the country. For instance, through November, state and federal websites received 39.1 million visits; we have received applications to provide coverage for approximately 3.7 million individuals; and 2.3 million people were determined eligible to buy a qualified health plan. These numbers remind us that we cannot go back to a system that leaves millions of Americans vulnerable and without care. We must move forward.
President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the White House Youth Summit on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building South Court Auditorium, Dec. 4, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As you know millions of people are already benefiting from and will continue to benefit from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For instance, upwards of 17 million children can no longer be denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. Additionally, starting in 2014, insurance companies can no longer charge higher premiums based on health status or history. These provisions provide millions of families with the peace of mind to know their children will receive the quality care they deserve.
Also, as a result of changes made by the ACA, millions of Americans are already saving money. For example, the ACA requires insurance companies to spend at least 80% of premiums on medical care and efforts to improve the quality of care. If they don’t, insurers have to send consumers a refund to meet this threshold. Already almost 80 million consumers have saved $3.4 billion upfront on their premiums in 2012; and, based on 2012 spending, 8.5 million customers received an average refund of approximately $100 per family.
The ACA’s commitment to providing health security to all Americans means expanding Medicaid, mental health benefits, and parity protections. Due to the US Supreme Court decision, States can choose whether or not to expand Medicaid coverage to all adults with incomes below 133% of the federal poverty (around $32,000 for a family of four). Already, 26 States and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid to provide better care to more of their residents. One thing is clear, Medicaid expansion is both the right and smart choice for states.
Furthermore, for the first time, insurance companies must cover mental health and substance use disorder services at parity with medical and surgical benefits. As such, out-of-pocket costs for behavioral health services must be comparable to coverage for medical and surgical care. That is one of the largest expansions of mental health and substance use disorder coverage in a generation!
In addition to increasing access to health insurance and benefits, the ACA allocated money to increase access to community health centers. Health centers across the country have received funding to create new health center sites in medically underserved areas, to expand preventive and primary health care services, and to support major construction and renovation projects. This important investment supports community health centers double the number of patients they serve to nearly 40 million by 2015. As approximately 35 percent of patients served by community health centers in 2009 were Latino, this investment will positively impact Latinos and help to reduce ethnic and racial disparities in health care.
As HealthCare.gov continues to improve each day for the vast majority of Americans, it’s important to recognize that Americans interested in quality affordable health insurance can purchase health insurance multiple ways. There are four key ways to apply for health insurance: online at HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov, by telephone at 1-800-318-2596, by mail, and in-person at specified community centers (click here to find local help; En Español). The diversity of application processes allows Americans to select which process works best for them.
As we enter a critical enrollment stage before the holidays, we ask that you to partner with us to amplify the important enrollment deadline of December 23rd to sign up for coverage beginning January 1st, 2014. Even if “health care” isn’t the particular focus of your organization and even if you don’t have grassroots organizers lined up in key markets, there is still something you can do to help people get access to the “gift of health care” this Holiday Season. If you are interested in working with our digital team to send a blast e-mail out to your networks reminding folks to sign-up on HealthCare.gov leading up to the 23rd, please reach out to me at Latino@who.eop.gov.
As always, please share this information with your networks, get engaged in educating the Latino community about the Health Insurance Marketplaces, and use the hashtag: #OurSalud to join the conversation.
Julie Chávez Rodriguez Deputy Director White House | Office of Public Engagement
Agency Updates
How the Marketplace Works Four steps to gaining health coverage. En Español.
Four Ways to get Marketplace Coverage Learn about all the ways to apply for health coverage through the Marketplace. En Español.
#GetCovered: My Story More people are applying and getting coverage from the Health Insurance Marketplace every day. Read personal stories of how the Marketplace has helped people across the country. You can share your story using #GetCovered.
Education Department Releases Updated Financial Aid Shopping Sheet to Provide Students with Additional Transparency in College Costs December 13, 2013 Today, the U.S. Department of Education released an updated version of the administration’s financial aid model award letter, known as the Shopping Sheet, and announced that nearly 2,000 institutions of higher education have voluntarily committed to using this important consumer tool.
The Health Insurance Marketplace: What You Need to Know December 4, 2013 Since it launched in October, we have made dramatic improvements to HealthCare.gov, taking it from a system that didn’t perform nearly as well as it should, to one that can help you learn about your new health insurance options, create an account, learn about financial help you may be able to receive, compare your options and select a plan. If you’ve tried HealthCare.gov and been unsatisfied with your experience, or if you’ve been wondering if you’re eligible for a more affordable option under the health care law, here are some tips for you. Remember, you MUST enroll in a plan by December 23, and pay your premium, to get coverage on January 1, 2014.
United States Agrees to Comprehensive Settlement with Suffolk County Police Department to Resolve Investigation of Discriminatory Policing Against Latinos December 3, 2013 The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York announced today that they have tentatively agreed to a settlement with the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) which calls for SCPD to implement new and enhanced policies and procedures to ensure nondiscrimination in the provision of police services to Latino communities in Suffolk County.
FACT SHEET: Youth CareerConnect Grants November 19, 2013 To compete in today’s global economy, America’s students need deep knowledge and skills that will prepare them for college and the jobs of the future. Yet far too many of America’s students are not meaningfully engaged or motivated in their academic experience while in high school. Many high school graduates lack exposure to learning that links their work in school to college and careers—especially in the critically important fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Moreover, many of America’s international competitors offer students a more rigorous and relevant education in their middle and high school years.
FACT SHEET: U.S.-Panama Relations November 19, 2013 The United States and Panama share nearly 150 years of history and strong cooperation. Our broad economic, security, and political cooperation reflect the wide range of shared interests.
Blog Highlights
Strengthening Health Centers to Strengthen Our Communities A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of visiting a high-energy forum at a community health center in my home town of Detroit, and saw firsthand how vital community health centers are as a source of quality health care. Today, approximately 1,200 health centers operate more than 9,000 service delivery sites that provide care to over 21 million patients across the country. I am frankly in awe of the great work that these community health centers provide, especially to the Latino and other underserved communities. En Español.
President Obama and the First Lady Will Welcome Two Latino Kennedy Center Honorees to the White House President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama will welcome the 2013 Kennedy Center Honorees to the White House this Sunday, December 8, where they will applaud and thank them for their musical contributions to the world. Amongst the five honorees, two of the artists being recognized are Latinos: acclaimed musician Carlos Santana and renowned soprano opera singer Martina Arroyo.
Get Involved
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics Webinar on Family Engagement This month’s webinar will focus on family engagement. The importance of a family’s role in a child’s academic, social, and emotional development is widely accepted and encouraged throughout the education sector. Join us to hear about two program models designed to create strong engagement between families and their children’s schools, and discuss ways to engage Hispanic families in education successfully.
Who: White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics What: A WEBINAR on Family Engagement When: Wednesday, December 18, at 2:00-3:10 pm EST Where: To RSVP, email WHIEEH@ed.gov with the subject line: “Family Engagement Webinar”. Please provide your name and organization.
Immigration Integration Project: Call for Applications Networks for Integrating New Americans is an innovative, national initiative that seeks to position adult education programs as key contributors to local, multi-sector networks formed to advance immigrant integration. The initiative will identify, strengthen, and document place-based models of immigrant integration that other communities can replicate and adapt. All materials can be found at: http://www.worlded.org/WEIInternet/us/project/display.cfm?ctid=na&cid=na&tid=40&id=13981.
Who: US Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education What: The project will select up to five forward-thinking community networks (also coalitions or initiatives) to receive technical assistance to address the linguistic, civic, and economic needs of immigrant adults. When: Preliminary applications are due Dec. 20, 2013 Where: Submit application online
White House Internship Program The White House Internship Program provides a unique opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and build leadership skills. This hands-on program is designed to mentor and cultivate today’s young leaders, strengthen their understanding of the Executive Office and prepare them for future public service opportunities. The White House Internship Program’s mission is to make the “People’s House” accessible to future leaders from around the nation.
Who: Young Leaders in the Community What: Opportunity to gain professional experience, build leadership skills, and further exposure to the public service sector. When: Applications due January 5, 2014 Where: Apply online at White House Internship Program Website
Email internship_info@who.eop.gov for more information.
White House Fellows Program Founded in 1964, the White House Fellows program is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. White House Fellowships offer exceptional young men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the federal government. Selected individuals typically spend a year working as a full-time, paid Fellow to senior White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries and other top-ranking government officials.
Who: Young Leaders in the Community What: The purpose of the White House Fellows program is to provide gifted and highly motivated young Americans with some first-hand experience in the process of governing the Nation and a sense of personal involvement in the leadership of society. When: Applications due January 15, 2014 Where: Apply online at White House Fellows Program Website
Be a Seed for Change 
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