Dear members,
Today John McDonald met with the Director of AHCCCS, Tom Betlach to discuss Medicaid Expansion. Mr. Betlach stressed the importance of sending e-mails and letters to Legislators to urge then to support Medicaid Expansion and e-mails to thank the Governor for supporting Medicaid Expansion. Extreme right wing factions are flooding Legislators’ e-mail boxes with e-mails that oppose the Medicaid Expansion.It is important for you to let your Legislators know how important Medicaid coverage is to your patients, health centers and the communities they serve!
One Republican Senator said that people who want to stop the Medicaid expansion are targeting the freshman legislators and other key legislators. This Senator is definitely supporting the expansion, but he needs our help to convince his colleagues that Medicaid Expansion is the best option for Arizona. Without e-mails from constituents who are in favor of the expansion those legislators will believe that the majority of Arizonans are opposed to the expansion.
Please take a minute to send an e-mail to your legislators and encourage them to support full expansion. I have attached a draft excel spreadsheet (link) with the names of the legislators who represent the district where your health centers are located. If you want to send an e-mail to the legislators who represent you, but you are not sure in what district you are located you go to the Arizona Redistricting Commission Website, put in your address and find your district. The link to the website ishttp://azredistricting.org/districtlocator/.
E-mail addresses use the first initial and full last name followed by @azleg.gov. For example the e-mail address for Senator Steve Pierce isspierce@azleg.gov . Remember to note that you are a constituent in the “Subject” line and note that it is about supporting Medicaid Expansion.
Below is a sample e-mail:
Dear Representative (or Senator) ______________,
I strongly support Governor Brewer’s proposal to expand Medicaid in Arizona. It would ensure access to healthcare for the thousands of low-income, uninsured residents in our communities. It would also help our primary care providers that struggle to provide quality healthcare under the burden of ever increasing levels of uncompensated care.
Reimbursements to healthcare providers would add much needed boost to Arizona’s economy and ensure healthier communities. I urge you to support the Governor's proposal to restore Prop 204 healthcare coverage and expand Medicaid to 133% FPL.
Sincerely,
Or, you can write the e-mail in your own words. Talking points are included (see links at the end of this posting).
E-mails from you, health center staff and patients are appreciated!! Please share this with others and encourage them to help us flood the Legislature with e-mails in support of Medicaid expansion.
An e-mail or a letter to the Governor thanking her for making the hard choice and supporting the Medicaid Expansion would also be appreciated. Send letters to:
The Honorable Janice K. Brewer
Arizona Governor
Executive Tower
1700 West Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
We are collecting the e-mails and letters to share with the Governor. Please bcc me on your e-mails so that they can be added to the folder for the Governor.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or e-mail. Thank you so much for your attention to this request!
Sincerely,
Tara Plese
Tara McCollum Plese, MPA
Sr. Director | External Affairs
700 E. Jefferson St. | Suite 100 | Phoenix, AZ 85034
