This week is our last opportunity to urge our members of Congress to take action to renew funding for Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC), the teaching health center program, and the National Health Scholars Corps (NHSC). Funding for these programs is set to expire on September 30th. Inaction by Congress would cost Arizona over $135 million and we could see a 27% reduction in the number of patients at FQHCs. We need your help to protect the services we provide in our communities. Please join us this week by taking one action each day to help make the case for our health centers.
#FixTheCliff Week of Action | Sep. 25-29
1) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: National Cliff Call-In Day – Be prepared to overwhelm your Congressional offices with calls – advocates should dial 1-(866) 456-3949 and enter your zip code to be connected to their Members. Access simple directions and a call script to be ready to make calls.
Make your calls now - dial the toll free Advocacy Hotline 1-866-456-3949 and follow the instructions to be connected to your Members of Congress:
- Select your Representative – ask that they co-sponsor the CHIME Act, HR 3770, then ask what they are doing to ensure there is Congressional action THIS WEEK to fix the cliff.
- Select Your Senators – demand immediate action to fix the Health Center Funding Cliff – you can let them know that 70 Members of the Senate co-sponsored the Blunt-Stabenow Health Center Cliff Letter supporting action to fix the cliff before September 30th
2) TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26: Fix the Cliff Social Media Blitz – Advocates should take to social media to tweet and post on Facebook demanding their Members of Congress act immediately to fix the cliff. Visit our cliff campaign and send a tweet or Facebook post directly to your members by visiting p2a.co/rN26AuX.
3) WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27: Fix the Cliff Email Blitz – Health Center Advocates, friends, family and colleagues need to clog Congressional inboxes with as many email messages possible demanding action to fix the cliff. Use our sample template, or enter your own message, by visiting this link, p2a.co/rN26AuX.
4) THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28: National Cliff Call-In Day #3 – This will be the final day in September while Congress is in session to deliver the Health Center message demanding action to fix the cliff. Until Congress acts our calls must be relentless and our message persistent. Be prepared to raise the bar once again and help generate thousands of calls to Congress – 9 million patients are counting on our advocacy.
ACA Repeal Update
Last week, Senator John McCain expressed his opposition to the Graham-Cassidy proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Click here to read his full statement regarding his decision to vote no on the proposal. In a gesture of appreciation, members of Arizona's House Health Committee sent the Senator a letter to thank him for his action. Click here to read a copy of the letter. The Graham-Cassidy bill could have a negative impact to our state. As of now, the bill could still be put up for a vote and we will continue to monitor actions being taken by other Senators to support or oppose the bill.
We encourage you to take a minute to contact Sen. McCain to thank him for his decision while continuing to put pressure on other members to hold them accountable. Click here to send a thank you email to Senator McCain and to email Senator Flake and Governor Ducey with your concerns. Click here to view the thank you ad published by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) in this weekend's The Arizona Republic to thank Senator McCain on behalf of several community partners.
Learn more about our advocacy efforts and access resources by visiting aachc.org/advocacy
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