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Our Work Together for Justice

The theme of our 2019 National HCH Conference this May is “Working Together for Justice.” While in D.C., conference attendees will meet with members of Congress, share their advocacy work with others, and rally for human rights in front of the White House. While this is important and exciting, we know that our work together is year-round, far beyond the limits of #HCH2019. Our success in advocacy depends on your involvement all over the country, 365 days a year. This month, we’re focused on our collective impact–whether you’re at the conference or at home– to ensure a just society where health care is recognized as a human right. Lives depend on this!

Engage in Advocacy at #HCH2019!

If you haven't registered yet, there's still time to sign up for #HCH2019! This event is your opportunity to attend four days of intensive trainings in health care and homelessness. While in D.C., we strongly encourage you to participate in “Hill Visits” to meet with your Senators and Representatives on Capitol Hill and to talk about policy changes that will end homelessness. After the closing plenary on Friday, attend our annual can’t-miss-event: a Rally in front of the White House. The Rally is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with your brothers and sisters in the movement for Justice. It’s also a good burnout prevention strategy to wave signs and shout out loud!

Learn More About Hill Visits & the Rally

Advocate for Universal Care: Tell Us Your Story

The National HCH Council believes that we need a universal single-payer system to ensure health care as a human right. In February, Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) introduced the single-payer House bill, and on April 10th Sen. Sanders (I-VT) introduced the Senate bill (read coverage on the House and Senate bills). In the months to come, we will continue to update the HCH community on how to move these initiatives forward. Now, we need your help building a story bank for our national advocacy work.

If you or your clients have thoughts or perspective on how our current health care system has led to homelessness or made it more difficult to escape homelessness, please send them to rreed@nhchc.org or set up a 20-minute phone interview by calling 443-703-1337.

Share Your Story

Our partners at National Nurses United have organized an online database of local opportunities to advocate for single-payer. Get involved in your community and join the thousands of volunteers all over the country educating their neighbors about why we need a better health care system.

Find Local Action

Medicaid Work Requirement Update

Last month, in an exciting victory for health care advocates, a district court judge ruled against work requirements in Arkansas’s and Kentucky’s Medicaid programs, blocking their progress. While the decision only applied in Arkansas and Kentucky, it could have implications in the future for other states. Following this decision, the Trump Administration moved forward with approving work requirements in Utah and stated they will continue the process of approving other states. This month, the Trump Administration filed an appeal to the rulings in Arkansas and Kentucky, taking the case to the D.C. Circuit Court, and Idaho joined the cohort of now 16 states attempting to implement Medicaid work requirements.

Brush up on Medicaid work requirements with the Council’s two-page Statement and Issue Brief.

What We're Reading

Bernie Sanders Gets Strong Support for ‘Medicare for All’ at Fox News Town Hall (CNBC)

Trump Just Guaranteed Health Care Will Be a Huge Issues in the 2020 Election (Vox)

Trump Administration Urging Alaska to be the First to Apply for Medicaid Block Grant (The Hill)

Montana Passes Bill to Continue Medicaid Expansion (Montana Public Radio)

City Takes a Breather on Safe-Injection Sites to Address Public Safety Concerns (Philly Voice)

The Many Varieties of “Single Payer” Around the World (The Commonwealth Fund)

Fact Sheets on How Many Uninsured Adults in Non-Expansion States Would Become Eligible for Medicaid if Their States Adopted the ACA Medicaid Expansion (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Did you receive Mobilizer as a forwarded email or hear about it via social media? Register now to receive our action alerts each month!

Regina Reed, MPH
National Health Policy Organizer
National HCH Council
Baltimore, MD
rreed@nhchc.org
(443) 703-1337

Two New Issues on the Horizon

• Trump Administration Proposes Rule to Evict Undocumented Immigrants from Subsidized Housing: This recent proposed rule could impact up to 25,000 households. The details will be posted soon in the Federal Register. Stay tuned for more information on this!

• Trump Administration Proposes Rule to Roll Back Transgender Protections: This change would make it easier for hospitals and providers to deny care or coverage to patients who are transgender. Details will be posted soon in the Federal Register. More information to come on this!

Rap Video of the Month

Kevin De Liban, an attorney for justice, sets the facts straight on Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas in this incredible 2:20-minute rap video set over a Notorious BIG track—be sure to watch until the end for a single-payer shout-out!

ICYMI From the Council

• Kaiser Family Foundation Policy Brief examines Medication-Assisted Treatment in Health Care for the Homeless programs. Don’t miss our upcoming webinar at 2-3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 1, and be sure to register to get the slides even if you can’t attend!

• Episode 4 of the Poverty Policy Podcast explores the role of yoga in a health care setting, the importance of a safe space for people experiencing poverty, and implications for our advocacy work. Prior episodes focus on immigration, health care, and community. Our podcast is now available on iTunes and Stitcher. Check us out!

• U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Blog Post delves into how we can partner with people with the lived experience to systematically address homelessness.

This publication and all HCH advocacy are funded by dues from Organizational Members of the Council and by private donations. Consider joining the Council to support this work.

National Heatlh Care for the Homeless Council