On April 23, Lutheran Services in America network members from our Policy and Advocacy Committee, the Disability Network, and the board of directors convened in Washington, D.C., for a day of meetings with Congressional offices. Nineteen member organizations were represented, and over 40 meetings were conducted in total.
Our Asks? No more cuts to Medicaid. Support for Workforce and Housing.
As part of our recent re-launch of our Here We Stand campaign to protect Medicaid, network members went to the Hill with three primary asks:
- Main Ask: No More Cuts to Medicaid: As Congress considers a third round of budget reconciliation, more cuts to Medicaid loom in the balance.
- Additional Issues included:
- Strengthening Workforce Capacity through Healthcare Workforce Innovation Act
- Expanding access to affordable housing with services through the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and support faith-based land development through the Yes In God’s Backyard (YIGBY) Act.
What can you do?
This is a pivotal moment as we work on two fronts:
- Federal: Congress is considering a third budget reconciliation bill that may mean even deeper cuts to Medicaid. Learn more and take action.
- State-level efforts: Whether your state is already working on implementation of H.R. 1 provisions including work reporting requirements and limitations from provider tax constraints, state budgets are tightening and most will be trying to do more with less.
Also consider the following:
- 5/21: Join our May Capitol Conversations webinar to learn more about future budget reconciliation efforts.
- Sign-up for one-on-one consultation to review updated Here We Stand. Resources and options for action. to review updated Here We Stand. Resources and options for action.
- Use our new Here We Stand resources to engage with lawmakers and the media. Materials include:
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- Medicaid Brief: Backgrounder on state fiscal challenges, Medicaid program integrity and waste, fraud and abuse.
- Action Guide: Suggested ways you can engage policymakers at the state or federal levels.
- Medicaid FAQs: Frequently asked questions and answers about the importance of Medicaid, policy impacts, and the Here We Stand campaign.
- Messaging for Federal Lawmakers: Suggested messaging for meetings with members of Congress (House and Senate).
- Messaging for State Lawmakers: Suggested talking points for your meetings/engagements with state lawmakers and officials.
Please contact the Lutheran Services in America government relations and public policy team:
Sue Polis
Sarah Dobson
Bill Kallestad
Kylie Bowlds
Support with communications efforts:
Sarah Dobson is Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at Lutheran Services in America.