As you know this is important to me and I am asking ALL of my fellow Texans to call, write, and help us fight. It is important. If you have any “INSIDE” connections or influence with Texas Representatives that would be helpful as well. Thank you in advance!!!

Advocate Aaron

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American Association of Birth Centers

 Legislative Alert

 

 

 

Texas Representatives Needed to Co-Sponsor

We have just added Rep. Diana DeGette (CO) - of the House Energy & Commerce Committee - as a sponsor to H.R. 2358 The Birth Center Medicaid Reimbursement Act.  This sponsorship comes as a result of the persistent contact of the staff and consumers of Mountain Midwifery Center.

 

You too can achieve the same results.  We need Texas Representatives to co-sponsor the bill. Texas Birth Centers are at the Center of Medicaid payment denials, and the rest of Congress expects to see the support from Texas Representatives for this bill!  In particular, we are targeting Texas Representatives Charles Gonzales, Ralph Hall, and Michael Burgess as they are also on the House Energy & Commerce Committee. We need their support to vote our bill out of Committee.

 

Read below to see how you can help.  Every phone call is important.

 

Until this bill is passed, payment for Texas birth centers and access to care in your state are at risk, subject to the whim of Texas politicians and administration staff!

 

 

HowYouCanHelpHOW YOU CAN HELP 

1) CALL YOUR U.S. REPRESENTATIVES

  • Ask them to co-sponsor and/or support H.R. 2358.  Call again with the bill number even if you called before.
  • Make a point to call all of the Representatives in your service area.  If your Representatives are on the House Energy & Commerce Committee it is especially important for you to call them. 
  • Tell them it is urgent that we pass the Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act so women will continue to have access to prenatal care and other care in birth centers. Focus on the needs of women and babies for access to high quality care as the goal of this legislation.  Download "Pregnant Women's Access to Care Threatened" for some talking points. 
  • Click here to find your Representative and his/her contact information.

2) CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS

  • Ask them to sponsor and introduce a Senate version of H.R. 2358.  This bill is a permanent solution to the payment crisis.
  • Click here to find your Senators and their contact information.

Remember, PHONE CALLS are more effective than emails.

3) Continue to collect signatures for the Physician Letter.

  • We must show broad, nationwide support from  physicians.

Please take 10 minutes to make these calls today! This bill not only impacts the health of mothers and babies but the future birth centers.

 

Call or email Karen Fennell (301-830-3910; karenfennell50@yahoo.com) or me (423-442-6624; jkalliman@yahoo.com) when you have made your calls.  

 

Thanks for all you do for mothers and babies--let's make their access to birth centers secure for the future.