Medicaid: Arizona

Status:

May 16, 2013: Governor Jan Brewer (R) announced she will accept federal funding to provide health coverage to the uninsured. Budget legislation that allows Arizona to accept this federal funding has passed the Senate, but strong opposition remains in the House. 

 Ways to Get Involved:

• One of NETWORK’s partners on this project, Voice of the Poor, currently has team members in Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma, and Flagstaff working to lobby their legislators. To help with this important effort, please contact Sr. Mary Ellen Lacy at melacy@networklobby.org [1]

• Interested advocates in other areas of Arizona can also contact Sr. Mary Ellen Lacy at melacy@networklobby.org [1] 

 Previous Actions Taken:

• May 16, 2013: Team members sent emails and made phone calls to their Senators thanking them for voting for a budget that allows Arizona to accept this federal funding. 
• May 2, 2013: Members of Voice of the Poor from Tucson traveled to Phoenix for an assembly with over 800 people where Governor Brewer, Senate Majority leader John McComish, and a few other legislators, all Republicans, committed to support Medicaid.   
• February 5, 2013: Members of Voice of the Poor and other Arizona interfaith groups lobbied their legislators at the capitol, while NETWORK members called and emailed their legislators in support of the groups making the visits.  
• January 22, 2013: Voice of the Poor members teamed up with interfaith groups and spent the whole day at the capitol, meeting with 15 different legislators!

Resources:

• One page fact-sheet on enrollment, eligibility, and cost: http://www.cbpp.org/files/healthtoolkit2012/Arizona.pdf [2]
• Medicaid Expansion Math Makes Sense: http://www.azcentral.com/opinions/articles/20130227editorial-math-makes-sense.html [3]
• Fiscal & Economic Consequences [4]
• Check out the great piece below by Voice of the Poor (VOP) Western Region director, Giulio Grecchi, that was included in the May VOP newsletter. 

Attachment

•   [5]VOP May Newsletter.pdf [5] [277.02 KB]