News release
Moms Take A Stand to Protect Health Reform
March 16, 2012
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Moms’ Organization to Celebrate Second Anniversary of Affordable Care Act through Social Media, Sharing Families’ Stories with Policy Makers
Next week marks the second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization for moms and everyone who has a mom, is marking this anniversary by amplifying the voices of families across the country who have benefited from the legislation as well as those poised to benefit when the final provisions go into effect in 2014.
During the week, MomsRising will share the first-person stories of MomsRising members across the country who, because of the ACA, have been able to get preventive care, keep their adult children on their health insurance, get necessary care for pre-existing conditions, and more.
Here are some of the week’s activities:
Monday
MomsRising ACA blog carnival, featuring more than 25 blogs from members that highlight the ways in which the ACA has already increased access to health care, including preventive services for more than 86 million people.
Facebook chat on MomsRising’s page with the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative at 11am EDT. During the chat, the organizations will share information and resources on women’s health, the ACA, private insurance and exchanges.
Tuesday
TweetChat on the impact of health reform on women’s health. Follow #herACA.
Wednesday
TweetChat on how the ACA has improved the health of children with Dr. George Askew, Medical Advisor to the Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, andFirst Focus, which works to ensure that our leaders focus first on the impact their policy decisions have on children and families. Follow #InvestinKids.
Thursday
MomsRising book delivery to Members of Congress. The book, Moms Can’t Be Rattled: We’re Standing Strong for the Consumer Protections We’ve Won Through the Affordable Care Act, contains first-person stories from moms, dads and others across the country about the ways the ACA has made their families healthier and their lives easier.
Tweetchat and Q & A from the White House with: Jon Carson, Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement; Hallie Schneir, Director of Women’s Outreach at the White House Office of Public Engagement; Judy Waxman, Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights; National Women’s Law Center; Danielle Jackson, Online Outreach Associate, National Women's Law Center, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director, MomsRising; Ashley Boyd, Campaign Director, MomsRising; and MomsRising members Felicia Willems and Tracy Muñoz. The group will be fielding questions in both English and Spanish from Twitter and Facebook during this public conversation about how families have benefited and will benefit from the ACA. Follow #ACAwhchat.
MomsRising member Tracy Muñoz has two of her adult sons her on health insurance plan, one who is 22 and the other 24. The provision making this possible in the ACA has allowed her oldest child to continue to pursue his graduate studies and secure his financial future without putting his health at risk. He says that without this support, he would likely be forced to discontinue his studies. The ACA allows adult children to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans until they are 26.
MomsRising member Felicia Willem’s son, Ethan, had a benign vascular tumor and required chemotherapy and other medical treatment, followed by physical, occupational and speech therapy. Without the ACA, his family could not have gotten coverage for his care.
Friday
Posting of the top resources and tweetchat transcripts from the week in conjunction with several other organizations, including Families USA, Young Invincibles and the National Council of La Raza. Follow #HCRatStake.
Facebook chat on MomsRising’s page about children’s health issues, including how to get the most out of well-child visits, when to take a child to the doctor and how to ensure a child gets the best possible care, with Dr. Ari Isenstadt, a pediatrician with the National Physician’s Alliance.
“MomsRising and our members and partners are speaking up and speaking out to show their support for health reform and its ongoing implementation,” said MomsRising Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. “The Affordable Care Act has quite literally saved lives and it has the potential to save millions more. Some political candidates and elected officials have vowed to repeal this groundbreaking law, but we’re here to tell them that we will continue to fight to ensure health care security for our families. We’ve seen first-hand the positive impact health reform has had already, and we won’t go back to the days when consumers were powerless against insurers who would drop people when they became sick or refuse coverage because of a pre-existing condition.”