CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is staging a Medicaid Day of Action nationwide on Tuesday, May 13, including here in North Carolina, to call on Sen. Thom Tillis and Congress to protect Medicaid. The House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee will vote this week on proposed cuts to Medicaid. ACS CAN volunteers and cancer advocates are taking to the streets and social media to show these lawmakers how devastating those cuts would be.
ACS CAN North Carolina volunteers plan to make their voices heard at Sen. Tillis’s Raleigh and Charlotte offices on Tuesday at 11:30 and 3 p.m. respectively. Additionally, the Day of Action on May 13 is paired with the launch of a new ad series, “Cuts Have Consequences.” The ad makes clear that slashing Medicaid will shorten cancer patients’ lives, and advocates in North Carolina won’t stand for it.
“When I was dealing with health challenges, Medicaid gave me access to cancer screenings and diagnostic tests. And then, when I was facing a cancer diagnosis, Medicaid gave me the courage to make lifesaving decisions quickly about my treatment and next steps,” said cancer survivor Carrie Klamut, who will participate in the Charlotte event. “The thought of others, who are in similar situations, not having that safety net infuriates me. Balancing life, treatment and trying to start a new job while suffering from extreme fatigue and unrelenting nausea is hard enough. Doing so while falling into mountains of medical debt would have paralyzed me into making decisions that would not have given me the best chance of survival. I cannot stand the thought of that program not being available to people who truly need it like I did. Together with my friends, family, and health care team, we’re urging Sen. Thom Tillis to stand up for the health of North Carolinians and vote against cuts to Medicaid.”
Medicaid is the top health insurance provider in the nation, covering nearly 80 million people. Currently 1 in 10 people with a history of cancer and 1 in 3 children diagnosed with the disease have Medicaid coverage. In North Carolina, more than 3 million people rely on Medicaid for health insurance coverage. The cuts being proposed by the U.S. House of Representatives would be devastating. Lives will be lost, and state economies will suffer greatly if these cuts are passed and implemented.
“We are committed to making sure the voices of cancer patients and survivors are heard loud and clear in this debate,” said John Broome, government relations director for ACS CAN in North Carolina. “The call for savings from Medicaid in the current bill in front of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee will force states to cut people and benefits out of the program. It also puts our hospital systems, especially rural health systems, at great risk.”
Since January, ACS CAN’s tireless volunteers and cancer advocates have reached out to lawmakers nearly 67,000 times, sent more than 100,000 messages and more than 30,000 petitions urging Congress to vote against any cuts to Medicaid in any form. This week, North Carolina cancer advocates are calling on Sen. Tillis to do the right thing and stand up for this lifesaving program. There is simply too much at stake.
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About ACS CAN
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) advocates for evidence-based public policies to reduce the cancer burden for everyone. We engage our volunteers across the country to make their voices heard by policymakers at every level of government. We believe everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Since 2001, as the American Cancer Society’s nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, ACS CAN has successfully advocated for billions of dollars in cancer research funding, expanded access to quality affordable health care, and advanced proven tobacco control measures. We stand with our volunteers, working to make cancer a top priority for policymakers in cities, states and our nation’s capital. Join the fight by visiting www.fightcancer.org.