Call to Action: December 13, 2018
21 Days Until The House Turns BLUE!
IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR VULNERABLE AMERICANS NOW
While Trump continues undermining ACA’s protections, Congress is beginning to realize that improving health care access is extremely important to the electorate.
It’s Thursday, so it’s time to ask Where’s Walden!
He Sold Us Out on Healthcare!
On December 4, our Senator Wyden introduced the Right Rebate Act (S. 3702) that:
- Prevents Big Pharma from misclassifying drugs to price-gouge Medicaid
- Gives HHS the authority to fine cheaters and reclassify their products
- Allows recovery of improper rebate payments
Oregon Representative Schrader introduced an identical bill in the House (HR. 7223) two days later.
The HHS Inspector General estimated that American taxpayers overpaid the maker of the EpiPen by $1.27 billion over 10 years and 885 other misclassified drugs cost government billions in unpaid rebates.
The House is also currently taking up the IMPROVE Act (HR. 7217), which boosts funding for:
- Improving Medicaid’s health care delivery to children with complex medical conditions
- Transitioning those with chronic conditions out of institutional care
- Partially covering elderly couples’ nursing home care
Funding for HR. 7217 would come from rebates recovered through HR. 7223.
If the House adds these bills to the year-end spending bill, they’re more likely to pass the Senate.
You know what to do!
Make Your Calls!
George Rubaloff
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATOR WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. Because improving health care delivery, especially for the most vulnerable covered by Medicaid, is a priority, I want to thank Senator Wyden for introducing the Right Rebate Act (S. 3702) and ask that he work hard for both its passage and that of the IMPROVE Act (HR. 7217) when it reaches the Senate. To keep the momentum going, he must also push for quick passage of the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act (tying U.S. prescription drug prices to those of other advanced capitalist countries) when it’s introduced in January. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATOR MERKLEY:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. Improving health care delivery, especially for the most vulnerable covered by Medicaid, is a priority, which is why Senator Merkley must work hard for passage of both the Right Rebate Act (S. 3702) and the IMPROVE Act (HR. 7217) when it reaches the Senate. To keep the momentum going, he must also push for quick passage of the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act (tying U.S. prescription drug prices to those of other advanced capitalist countries) when it’s introduced in January. Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. Improving health care delivery, especially for the most vulnerable covered by Medicaid, is a priority, which is why I’m asking Greg Walden to get onto the right side of history and work hard for (1) passage of both the Right Rebate Act (HR.7223) and the IMPROVE Act (HR.7217), and (2) their inclusion in the year-end spending bill. To keep the momentum going, Mr. Walden must put People Before Party and also push for quick passage of the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act (tying U.S. prescription drug prices to those of other advanced capitalist countries) when it’s introduced in January. Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: TODAY – DECEMBER 13**
Join us this evening for ORD2 Indivisible’s Holiday Gathering, Potluck & Non-perishable Food Drive. 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Paschal Winery, 1122 Suncrest Road in Talent.
SOURCES:
Capitol Hill Healthcare Update:
Wyden bill aims to recoup millions from ‘Pharma ripoff’
House set to voter on bill cracking down on drug companies overcharging Medicaid
Overnight Health Care: House set to vote on bill cracking down on drug companies
Sanders, Khanna to Introduce Legislation to Drastically Lower Prescription Drug Prices
