National HIV Call-In Day to Save Health Care

Monday, June 26, is National HIV Call-In Day to Save Health Care. It’s a nationwide effort of the HIV community to convince U.S. senators to reject the catastrophic GOP health care bill.

Not sure whom to call or what to say? An action alert put out by Positive Women’s Network—USA lists these steps:

GET THE FACTS:

Find out how Medicaid cuts would affect your state with these 50 state (and DC) fact sheets from Georgetown University Center for Children and Families and National Health Law Program. The fact sheets are in Word format so that you can brand them with your organization’s logo if you wish and use them in in-person visits with legislators and their staff.
Want to do more to stop the GOP from taking away our health care? Here’s a quick guide from The Nation with some great actions you can take.
Learn from members of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS how the health care bill could kill thousands unnecessarily.

TAKE ACTION!

Call the HIV Hotline TODAY! Call 866-246-9371 to be connected to your Senators. You can tell them:

“My name is _____ and I live in [city, ZIP]. I’m a person [living with/concerned about] HIV and I’m calling to urge Senator ____ to reject any health care bill that contains cuts or caps to Medicaid. Over 40% of people living with HIV depend on Medicaid for their health care; cuts and caps would lead to unnecessary deaths. We are counting on Senator ____ to stand up for his constituents and for what’s right and reject any cuts or caps to Medicaid!”

Do you work or volunteer for an organization that provides services for or advocates for people who would be affected by the changes to health care? Have some friends and family who are also worried about the impending health care disaster? Make the most of the HIV Hotline and organize a phone bank! Our partners at AIDS Foundation of Chicago have put together a great tool kit for organizing a phone bank to mobilize a greater number of people to call their senators about the health care bill, which you can find here.
Here is a list of high-priority targets (and their legislative assistants) you can call and write:

ARIZONA: Sen. JEFF FLAKE (R)
Legislative Assistant Helen Heiden • helen_heiden@flake.senate.gov • 202-224-4521

ARKANSAS: Sen. Thomas Cotton (R),
Legislative Assistant Abigail Welborn • abigail_welborn@cotton.senate.gov • 202-224-2353

ALABAMA: Sen. Luther Strange (R)
Legislative Assistant Nick Moore • Nick_Moore@strange.senate.gov • 202-224-4124

ALASKA: Sen. Murkowski (R)
HELP Committee Legislative Aide Morgan_Griffin@murkowski.senate.gov • 202-224 6665
Legislative Director Garrett_Boyle@murkowski.senate.gov • 202-224-6665

COLORADO: Sen. Cory Gardner (R)
Legislative Director Curtis Swager • curtis_swager@gardner.senate.gov • 202-224-5941
Legislative Assistant • Alison_toal@gardner.senate.gov • 202-224-5941

LOUISIANA: Sen. Bill Cassidy (R)
Senior Health Policy Adviser Matt Gallivan • matthew_gallivan@cassidy.senate.gov • 202-224-5824
Research Analyst Davis Mills • David_Mills@cassidy.senate.gov • 202-224-5824

MAINE: Sen. Susan Collins (R)
Legislative Assistant Elizabeth Allen • elizabeth_allen@aging.senate.gov • 202-224-2523

OHIO: Sen. Rob Portman (R)
Legislative Assistant Sarah Schmidt • sarah_schmidt@portman.senate.gov • 202-224-3353

NEVADA: Sen. Dean Heller (R)
Legislative Assistant Rachel Green • Rachel_Green@heller.senate.gov • 202-224-6244

TENNESSEE: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R)
David Cleary, Chief of Staff • david_cleary@help.senate.gov • 202-224-4944
HELP Committee Health Staff Mary-Sumpter Lapinski • MarySumpter_Lapinski@help.senate.gov • (202) 224-6770

WEST VIRGINIA: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R)
Legislative Assistant Dana Richter • dana_richter@capito.senate.gov • 202-224-6472
Legislative Correspondent Mike Fischer • Mike_Fischer@capito.senate.gov • 202-228-1395

WISCONSIN: Sen. Ronald Johnson (R)
Legislative Director Sean Riley • sean_riley@ronjohnson.senate.gov • 202-224-5323

Similarly, AIDS United lists several steps you can take on the call-in day:

Urge your constituents, colleagues, friends, relatives or anyone you can reach to use the HIV Hotline and participate in the National Call-In Day on June 26. It’s easy!

Call 866-246-9371.
When asked provide your ZIP code. You will be directed to key senators in your state.
Tell the person who answers: your name; where you live; that you are a person with HIV or a person affected by HIV; that the American Health Care Act will cause people with HIV to lose health care coverage; and that you urge the senator to oppose the American Health Care Act.

When reaching out to your senators and governors or spreading the message in your networks and on social media, drive the following points home:

Key Talking Points

1. The Senate bill is essentially the same as the House bill.

They are taking care away from millions of people.
Costs will continue to skyrocket—this bill does not solve that problem.
They are ending Medicaid as we know it; this will target the most vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, seniors in nursing homes and children.
Funding is going to a tax cut for the most well-off Americans.
Many senators respond to veterans’ needs. Drive home the message that veterans and their families will lose coverage with this bill.

2. This bill is being rushed to a vote and created in secret.

There is no transparency.
We may have 48 hours after the CBO score is released; this is not enough for the public to fully understand, appreciate and respond.

3. The Senate is breaking their promises, and we will hold them accountable.

They said that people will not lose coverage, insurance will be cheaper and more available and that people with preexisting conditions will not be turned down for insurance.
They are breaking promises with this bill. We will remember and hold them accountable.

For more, read “Urgent Action Alert: Help #KillTheBill.”