IMPORTANT: Comments Due RE: WORKERS and Medicaid

[Sapphire Blue]

Email from the Coalition on Human Needs (http://www.chn.org)...

Reminder: Comments on Medicaid Proof of Citizenship Rules are Due by Friday, August 11

On July 12, 2006, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the interim final regulations to implement the new law that U.S. citizens applying for and receiving Medicaid show “satisfactory documentary evidence” of their citizenship. This new documentation requirement could increase the likelihood that poor and vulnerable U.S. citizens applying for or receiving Medicaid coverage will face delay, denial, or loss of coverage. Children and people displaced from fires or natural disasters are among those who will be harmed by the new regulations’ unnecessarily rigid documentation requirements.

For organizations wishing to send their own comment letter, see the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ template and directions on how to submit comments at: http://www.chn.org/pdf/2006/medicaidcomments.pdf

If your organization is not sending your own comment letter but would like to register your concern, please consider co-signing the Families USA letter. See the letter at: http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/docs/lena/Comments-7-26-06-Final.doc.

If you would like to sign on to the Families USA comments, contact Lena O’Rourke, Families USA, at: [e-mail]. In your email also include one or two sentences about your organization to include in the final comment letter.

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From our friends at the National Immigration Law Center:

Comments on Plan to Put Workers at Risk are Due by Monday, August 14, 2006

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule regarding the Social Security Administration's (SSA) "no-match" letters that could potentially harm ANY worker in the U.S. - especially those workers who are most vulnerable. Under the proposed rule, employers could be held liable for violating immigration law if they continue to employ workers who receive notification that the name and social security number they gave their employer does not match the SSA records (otherwise known as an SSA "no-match" letter) - despite the numerous legitimate reasons for a "no match." This may prompt panicked employers to fire thousands of workers before workers have a chance to resolve the discrepancy.

For more information about the rule, to see a template for sending comments to DHS, and for ideas on other actions see: http://www.nilc.org/immsemplymnt/SSA_Related_Info/index.htm#nomatchltrs

It is critical that DHS hears a loud and strong opposition to this proposed rule from civil, worker, and immigrant rights communities from across the nation, including unions and community and faith-based organizations and advocates.
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[bobbolink]

1. I got caught in this, as have thousands of others

The same thing was done to Social Security, and they are demanding papers that a lot of people don't have. If you are female, beware that you have to also document name changes--with certified certificates. Some of those are no longer even available!

It's interesting that this all was done under something called "The Deficit Reduction Act"!! In other words, they were planning on loss of life in order to cut back on expenditures.

It very nearly worked on me, and I'd like to know how many people are dying because of this. I'd also like to know why this isn't an important issue for Democrats and liberals!!

Are the lives of poor people worth so little???

[EFerrari]

2. I can nearly top that. I was denied services because I couldn't

prove I was unemployed WHILE I was at home taking care of my husband full time.

It's enough to make you :crazy:

[bobbolink]

3. No need to "top" it... we just need to get Dems to take this seriously!!

I really want to know how many Dems voted for this abortion!!

This is so obscene...words fail!!

:nuke:

[EFerrari]

4. I know.

:hug:

[bobbolink]

5. Hugs back

:hug:

I'm really ticked that this is such a live-threatening issue, yet this thread went 24 hours without so much as one reply!!!

What is going on with this??

Why do our lives not matter?

What am I, chopped liver??!!

I'm to the point of completely giving up!!

[EFerrari]

6. Definitely not chopped liver!

I think part of the problem is, we're dealing on so many fronts, that any one may be neglected at any time.

Also, speaking for myself, as I don't have a ready answer and find my reps unresponsive and my own situation scares me 3 out of 7 days, sometimes, I just avoid it. Not a good strategy, for sure. :(

[bobbolink]

7. Yeah, I keep hearing that "dealing on so many fronts"

Sorry, not buying it!

When people have so much time that they can "DU this poll" which, in the end, is meaningless, then they have enough time to make a simple phone call, get in an email, and pass on the info!

Nope, that just doesn't cut it. I've heard the excuses, and it's nonsense. We just don't count.

I have droppped a lot of political activism because of it, and so have others.

So, do Dems want votes of poor folk, or not? That's the point I'm at now. IF I don't matter, and my life is expendable, then why the hell bother to even vote???

It hurt so very deeply!

[EFerrari]

8. I hear you, bobbolink, I really do.

My family's life has been forever changed because of this state of affairs.

Some days are better than others. Some Dems more aware and receptive than others.

But, trivia aside, I've said before that BushCo behave as if they are firestarters. They like to get us going over THERE so we forget about what is in our face. And repeat and repeat and repeat.

That's why I really appreciate Sapphire Blue's focussed posts. They help me focus up and, some days, that's not an easy thing to do.