Columns The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias It’s Time to Speak Up to Guard Your Healthcare Benefits It’s Time to Speak Up to Guard Your Healthcare Benefits by Ed Tobias | September 22, 2017 Share this article: Share article via email Copy article link Have you heard of a healthcare “reform” proposal in the U.S. Senate called “Graham-Cassidy?” If not, take heed because Graham-Cassidy is a last-ditch effort by Republicans on Capitol Hill, led by Senators Lindsay Graham (SC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Dean Heller (NV), and Ron Johnson (WI), to limit healthcare benefits to Americans who need them the most. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has joined with 15 other patient and healthcare groups to oppose this proposal, and you should, too. Here’s why: The Graham-Cassidy measure would reduce funding for Medicaid, a program on which so many MS patients depend. It would remove the Obamacare requirement that insurance policies cover basic, essential medical services. It would remove Obamacare’s protection for people who have pre-existing conditions. It would, potentially, open the door to annual and lifetime caps on some medical coverage. NBC News has an excellent analysis of Graham-Cassidy’s impact, if you want to dive deeper. In an effort to derail Graham-Cassidy, the MS Society and other groupsĀ sent a letter to senators urging them to vote against the proposal. Part of it reads: “Affordable, adequate care is vital to the patients we represent. This legislation fails to provide Americans with what they need to maintain their health. In fact, much of the proposal just repackages the problematic provisions of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which we opposed. Fortunately, the BCRA was voted down by Congress earlier this year.” Instead of Graham-Cassidy, these patient-advocacy groups urge senators to support bipartisan hearings that are expected to be held next week in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and in the Senate Finance Committee. The healthcare groups’ letter continues: “These hearings, focused on market stabilization and other critical issues, represent a modest, yet promising first step towards addressing our nationās health care challenges.” Republicans face a Sept. 30 deadline to push through Graham-Cassidy. Because of the way the voting procedure was set up, once that date passes, 60 votes, rather than 50, will be needed to move to a vote on the bill. It’s very unlikely that Graham-Cassidy, or anything similar, could muster that number. So, now is the time for you to speak up. Here’s where you can find out how toĀ contact your senators. Please click now and make your voice heard. You’re invited to follow my personal blog at: www.themswire.com. *** Note:Ā Multiple Sclerosis News TodayĀ is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician orĀ other qualified health providerĀ with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those ofĀ Multiple Sclerosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis. Print This Page About the Author Ed Tobias People say to write what you know and Ed Tobias knows about MS. He's lived with the illness since 1980, when he was 32 years old. Ed's a retired, award-winning broadcast journalist and his column combines his four decades of MS experiences with news and comments about the latest in the MS community. In addition to writing his column, Ed is one of the patient moderators on the MS News Today Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites. Heās also the author of āThe Multiple Sclerosis Toolbox: Hints and Tips for Living with M.S.ā Ed and his wife split their time between the Washington, D.C. suburbs and Floridaās Gulf Coast, trying to follow the sun. Tags healthcare, Obamacare Comments charles supporting medicare for all would be the best thing to ensure that we do not lose benefits. Reply ROBERT Lage I Think that all of us that live on this planet deserve to have health care.We are all one people under God & should take care of each other like the GODS word says.We gotta get rid of the Devil trying to destroy us by putting nasty thoughts in our heads.Please let's vote on the right thing to do folks. Reply Leave a comment Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published. Your Name Your Email Your Comment Post Comment
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