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Peek @ Policy Blog

American Rescue Plan Helps People Afford Health Coverage

3/25/2021

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Update from Raising Women's Voices

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the existence of the ACA even more important, as millions of people have lost their jobs and/or their health coverage at exactly the time when affordable health care is critically important. The new Biden administration COVID relief plan, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is helping to make ACA health plans even more affordable – at least on a temporary basis. Health advocates hope such changes can be made permanent in the future.

Starting next week, April 1, much needed relief is coming to COVID-weary Americans who cannot afford to buy or keep their health coverage. Thanks to the ARPA, low- and middle-income people will get more financial assistance than ever in American history to buy high quality health plans on their own. An estimated 14.9 million uninsured people will now qualify for financial assistance to buy their own health plan through HealthCare.gov, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The ARPA COVID relief package will help people afford health coverage in three main ways. The first two improve the affordability of private ACA health plans sold through HealthCare.gov or state insurance marketplaces:
  • More people are now eligible for more financial assistance through HealthCare.gov, primarily in the form of Advance Premium Tax Credits, a subsidy based on your income that lowers your monthly insurance payment or premium. This means that four out of five people will be able to find a health plan for $10 a month or less. The average person who buys a health plan through HealthCare.gov will pay $50 less per month. This assistance will be in place for two years.
  • Anyone who qualifies for or collects unemployment payments in 2021 is automatically eligible for a health plan for little or no monthly premium from HealthCare.gov. Since this provision is more challenging logistically for the marketplace to implement, it will not be active until later this summer. However, you can shop for health plans now. This provision will be in place for one year.

The ARPA has an additional provision to help people who lost their jobs keep their employer-sponsored coverage. COBRA is the federal law that enables people to remain on a former employer’s health plan for 18 months, or longer in some states, by paying the premiums themselves. However, many people have found this option to be unaffordable. Now the federal government will pay 100% of the monthly premiums for six months (April - September 2021) for anyone who involuntarily lost their employer-based coverage and opts for COBRA. This relief, although temporary, makes COBRA a much more attractive short-term option.

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Much to Celebrate in Governor Evers' Budget

2/22/2021

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On February 16th, Governor Tony Evers outlined his groundbreaking and forward-thinking 2021-2023 Budget Proposal. He included a wide range of initiatives that get to the heart of making a difference in Wisconsinites' lives. 

If you're interested in viewing Governor Evers' entire budget proposal, you can do so here. But to make it easier for you, the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health has analyzed and scrutinized the 717-page document and crafted a summary of the items we're excited about in Governor Evers' budget:

  • Healthy Women, Healthy Babies Proposal: Wisconsin has the disgraced reputation of being one of the worst states to have a black child and raise a black family. Among the many alarming disparities that plague our state, black babies born in Wisconsin are 3x more likely than white babies to die before they reach the age of 1. Governor Evers' budget dedicates $30 million to address and disrupt racial disparities in maternal and child health. To support healthier pregnancies and births, his priorities include increasing funding for doulas, expanding postpartum Medicaid coverage to one full year post-birth, and providing grants to Black-led organizations working to advance black women's health. We’re especially excited to see Governor Evers include a specific expansion of Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from the current 60 days to a full year following the birth of a child. 

  • BadgerCare Expansion: For the past six years, former Governor Scott Walker and legislative Republicans have rejected billions of dollars in federal funds available to Wisconsin under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Governor Evers' budget will expand BadgerCare to ensure health care coverage for  nearly 100,000 Wisconsinites while saving taxpayers an estimated $634 million. Expanding BadgerCare means that low-income, uninsured people - who are predominantly women and children of color - will have access to affordable healthcare coverage and have the ability to receive necessary care, services, and support. Expanding BadgerCare also means that we can invest our saved state dollars in other important initiatives that benefit Wisconsin women - like the Healthy Women, Healthy Babies proposal listed above.  

  • Prohibiting the Shackling of Pregnant & Laboring Women in Prisons: Although widely regarded as an assault on human dignity as well as an unsafe medical practice, incarcerated women are still routinely shackled during pregnancy and childbirth.  Shackling pregnant prisoners endangers the health and safety of both the mother and the fetus, and is almost never justified by the need for safety and security for medical staff, the public or correctional officers. Through his budget, Governor’s he recommends limiting the use of restraints on pregnant and postpartum people in correctional facilities. 

  • Improving Wisconsin’s Public Health Infrastructure: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for increased investment in our state’s public health infrastructure, which has been chronically underfunded in the past. The Governor’s budget continues the administration’s pandemic response by bolstering Wisconsin’s health infrastructure with an investment of more than $400 million in hospitals, local health departments, and other public health initiatives. This would be one of the largest public health investments in Wisconsin in at least 20 years and builds on over $2 billion in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds that our administration has dedicated to Wisconsin’s response and recovery from COVID-19. 

  • Improvements in Telehealth Coverage: The flexibility to use telehealth for regular doctor's visits, urgent appointments, and other medical needs has never been more important. In this time of COVID-19 and widespread uncertainty, Wisconsinites have struggled to maintain reliable access to affordable and safe healthcare services. That's why Governor Evers has continued to find new ways to reduce barriers to telehealth. His budget includes proposals that will prohibit insurers from denying telehealth coverage if the service would otherwise be covered in-person, bar insurers from charging patients extra for telehealth visits, and prevent insurers from imposing limits on telehealth services. His budget also includes an investment in statewide broadband to make telehealth a true option for rural communities. 

  • Childcare Investments: Since the onset of the pandemic, one of Wisconsin's most apparent issues has been dramatically magnified: the need for affordable, quality childcare. Across our state, women are being pushed out of the workforce to shoulder the majority of family caregiving responsibilities. Unfortunately, our childcare system has not adapted to the specific needs of COVID-19, nor has it shifted to accommodate both parents working outside the home. To alleviate this ongoing structural problem, Governor Evers' budget will invest $140 million in new funding toward an initiative that will prioritize childcare equity, affordability, and accessibility. 

  • Funding for Caregivers: Caregiving is a critical component of our society and our loved ones' lives. Across the nation and in Wisconsin, caregivers tend to be underpaid and overworked women. Governor Evers has recognized this unsettling reality and included several provisions in his budget to reduce the financial stress on people who serve as caregivers. Some of his proposals entail investing $240 million to raise nursing home rates, allocating $77 million to support personal care services, expanding the Family & Medical Leave Act, and increasing funding for aging and disability resource centers - including those on native land. 

  • Key Democracy Reforms: And finally, recognizing how difficult is has been to advance any positive, proactive policies related to women’s health, safety and economic security in Wisconsin, we are extremely grateful that the Governor’s Budget takes important steps to mitigate the negative impacts of past voter suppression efforts and gerrymandering in our state. By directing the Department of Transportation to implement automatic voter registration, modifying voter ID requirements such as requiring the UW system to issue student IDs that comply with voter ID laws, extending absentee voting time frame, and requiring the legislature to go by the Fair Maps Commission recommendations when redrawing district boundaries, the Governor’s Budget makes necessary recommendations to ensure voters can be heard through the ballot and through the legislative session.


The Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health will continue to advocate for these and other important budget items that are critical in achieving our vision: Every Wisconsin woman - at every age and every stage of life - is able to reach her optimal health, safety and economic security.

Here's what you can do to help ensure these  items remain in the budget to be passed by our State Legislature: 
  • Call or e-mail your State Legislators and ask them to keep these items in the budget. Let them know how you feel and why this is important to you. www.supportwomenshealth.org/know-your-legislators.html 
  • Follow our more in-depth budget analysis at https://www.wawhbudgetproject.org 
  • Stay tuned for opportunities to speak out to member of the Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee.

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WAWH Joins Over 100 Groups United To Make Sure Budget Hearings are Accessible and Safe

2/18/2021

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The Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health is proud to join with over 100 other organizations in Wisconsin calling on the Joint Finance Committee to hold Budget Hearings virtually for public safety and accessibility


February 18, 2021

To: The Joint Finance Committee
Cc: Governor Evers, Senate Majority Leader LeMahieu, Senate Minority Leader Bewley, Speaker Vos, Assembly Minority Leader Hintz, Members of the Legislature

Dear Co-Chairs Marklein and Born,

The state budget process is one of the most important policy discussions that legislators, the Governor’s staff, and advocacy groups engage in together. At the heart of the state budget is the belief that our state’s values are reflected in the decisions that are made about how we spend our state’s tax dollars. But, it is also true that robust public engagement in making these decisions is a value in and of itself. As advocacy organizations representing various issues, geographic reach, and constituency bases, it is essential that we reach out to you as the Co-Chairs of the Joint Finance Committee to offer our support for making the 2021-2022 State Budget hearings be as productive and inclusive as possible. While we represent far ranging and diverse populations, we are united in wanting to make sure that every person who wants to participate in the JFC hearings, and other legislative hearings this session, can do so safely.

Because of the known risks with large public gatherings due to Covid-19 and the uncertainty about when it will be safe for all members of the public to attend, we as member-based organizations cannot in good conscience encourage our members to risk their health to attend large public hearings. Many of our members are at higher risk of developing life-threatening health issues due to age or underlying health conditions. Some of our members are from communities that have been especially hard hit by the COVID pandemic, such as people of color, who are at higher risk for adverse outcomes from a COVID infection. In addition, there is concern that not adequately following public health guidance for large public gatherings will further strain our health care system, which we all benefit in keeping COVID care from overwhelming.

The below signed advocacy groups are asking you, in your discretion as chairs, to make the following virtual and remote options available for public testimony to the JFC committee and ability to formally register their positions on the state budget:
  • Establish an e-mail address for the Joint Finance Committee expressly for collecting testimony for inclusion into the public record.
  • Establish an online version of the hearing slip that can be used anywhere in the state by constituents to register their position on the budget similar to what they could fill out if they attended in person.
  • Develop clear, consistent language and instructions for the public on how they may register and submit testimony remotely. We suggest these instructions are included as part of every public hearing notice.
  • Allow use of virtual platforms for remote testimony. Many platforms allow registration in advance and uploading of files which may be useful features for legislative committees. State agencies have used these platforms for gathering public input and comment during the pandemic.
  • Consider providing a limited (by registration) call-in option for individuals to provide remote testimony if they do not have access to the internet, do not have a computer or have poor broadband.
  • Ensure there are clear guidelines and notices posted online and in other places to help people understand all testimony options.
  • Coordinate with state expertise (such as the Department of Health Services media team) to maximize accessibility for constituents with sensory disabilities on virtual platforms.
  • Partner with Wisconsin Eye to provide captioning and ASL interpreters for hearing impaired individuals for all public hearings using this service.

The below signed groups and our members wish to support a state budget process that welcomes the voices and experience of all people in Wisconsin during this critical time. We believe these suggestions will help you and other members of the committee run a state budget hearing process that we can all be proud of together.

Sincerely,
1000 Friends of Wisconsin
350 Madison
A Better Wisconsin Together
AARP Wisconsin
ACLU of Wisconsin
African American Roundtable, Inc.
AFSCME Council 32
All Voting Is Local
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin
Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin
Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin
Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC)
Black Lives Matter to Wisconsin Unitarian Universalists
Blue Sky Waukesha
Central Wisconsin ADAPT
Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance, Inc.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Citizen Advocates for Public Education
Clean Wisconsin
Coalition For Justice
Common Cause Wisconsin
Common Cause Wisconsin
Consumer Direct Care Network
Crawford Stewardship Project
Disability Rights Wisconsin
Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin
Esther
Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO)
Fair Wisconsin
First Baptist Church of Madison
For Our Future Wisconsin
Harambee Village Doulas
Interfaith Earth Network
Kids Forward
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin
LOV Inc, Living Our Visions Inclusively
Lutheran Office for Public Policy in Wisconsin
Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates
Main Street Alliance
Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Inc.
Midwest Environmental Advocates
Milwaukee Branch NAACP
Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission
Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH)
Milwaukee Mental Health Task Force
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Milwaukee Turners
Milwaukee Zen Center
Monona UMC
NAACP Milwaukee Branch
NASW WI
Northern Wisconsin NORML
People First Wisconsin
People of Progression
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
Progress North
Protect Our Care Wisconsin
RENEW Wisconsin
Rid Racism Milwaukee
River Alliance of Wisconsin
Schools and Communities United
Sierra Club Wisconsin
Souled Out Ministries INC
SOULS
Souls To The Polls
Southeastern Wisconsin ADAPT
Survival Coalition of WI Disability Advocacy Organizations
The Arc Greater Columbia County
The Arc Wisconsin
The Arc-Dane County
UFCW Local 1473
Waupaca County ARC Inc.
WI Association of Family & Children's Agencies
WI Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
WI Conference NAACP
WI Early Childhood Association
Wisconsin Aging Advocacy Network
Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools
Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Wisconsin Coalition of Independent Living Centers, Inc.
Wisconsin Conservation Voters
Wisconsin Council of Churches
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Wisconsin Education Association Council
Wisconsin Environment
Wisconsin Environmental Health Network
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training & Support (WI FACETS)
Wisconsin Farmers Union
Wisconsin Green Muslims
Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action
Wisconsin Interfaith Power and Light
Wisconsin Justice Initiative
Wisconsin Lakes
Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association
Wisconsin Long Term Care Workforce Alliance
Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance
Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association
Wisconsin Public Education Network
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Wisconsin's Green Fire
WISPIRG
Youth Justice Milwaukee


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Should you be worried that the Supreme Court will end your ACA coverage?

10/22/2020

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From our partners at Raising Women's Voices:

News about the Trump-backed lawsuit to repeal the ACA, which will be heard by the Supreme Court on November 10, has no doubt created confusion about whether the ACA will continue to exist. Moreover, Trump’s nomination of Barrett, who has openly spoken out against the ACA, to fill the seat left vacant by Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death has further increased public uncertainty about the future of the ACA. That’s why it’s important to let people know that as of now, nothing has changed, and the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land.


While the lawsuit challenging the ACA will go before the court next month, no decision on it will be released until next June (the traditional time period for SCOTUS decisions to be handed down). Moreover, it is possible that SCOTUS would strike down only the individual mandate provision of the ACA, not the entire legislation. Exactly that possibility was raised prominently during Barrett’s confirmation hearing in a discussion about the “severability” of one portion of a law that is found to be unconstitutional from the remainder of the legislation, which would still stand.  

So, how should we reassure people who may be eligible for ACA coverage and encourage them to apply starting November 1? Here are some of the key messages that we want to get out for Open Enrollment: 

  • The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land. As of now, nothing has changed, and you will still be able to sign up for health coverage on HealthCare.gov on November 1. 
  • If you lost your employer-provided health coverage, you may now qualify for coverage through Medicaid or the Marketplace. You can learn more at HealthCare.gov. 
  • You may qualify for low-cost or even free health coverage! Most people who buy a plan on HealthCare.gov are able to receive financial assistance. Last year, it was estimated that seven out of 10 enrollees will paid $75/month or less for their health plans. An estimated one in three will pay less than $10/month. 
  • Even if you already have a plan, and you don’t have to automatically re-enroll, COVID-19 has changed a lot of families’ health needs. You can explore other options on HealthCare.gov. 
  • If you do buy a health plan on HealthCare.gov, your coverage will start on January 1. Be sure to pay your first premium before then to keep your health plan! 

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What you need to know about today's election in Wisconsin

4/7/2020

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Election Day is ON.

While Governor Evers tried to postpone today's election for the safety of Wisconsinites, the State Supreme Court order the election to take place.


We know it's been incredibly confusing, so here's some information to help you navigate today's election day:

You can vote in person at the polls until 8:00 PM. You still need ID. You can still register to vote at the polls. These rules have not changed.

If you have an absentee ballot in hand, you can still mail it! ALL ABSENTEE BALLOTS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RETURNED TO YOUR CLERK'S OFFICE, DESIGNATED POLLING PLACE, OR DROP BOX (IF AVAILABLE) BEFORE 8:00 PM ON APRIL 7th.

If you plan to mail your absentee ballot, be sure to take it to a post office so it will be postmarked with a date. Dropping your ballot in a neighborhood collection box will not ensure that it's postmarked on April 7th. Ballots postmarked after April 7th will not be counted.

Clerks will be allowed to continue counting mailed absentee ballots as they are received, until April 13th, as long as they are postmarked by April 7th. Because of this we won't know election results until April 13th.

VOTING AT THE POLLS


Voters are still assigned to designated polling places (like normal) BUT YOUR POLLING PLACE MIGHT NOT BE WHERE IT USUALLY IS. Check with your municipal clerk to make sure you are headed to the right place. Find your clerk here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk

Due to a shortage of poll workers, many cities have had to drastically reduce the number of polling places, and in some areas, you might have to drive to another town to vote.

MORE ABOUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS

If you requested an absentee ballot but did not receive it yet, you can vote in person at your polling place. The poll worker will be able to tell that you had requested an absentee ballot and may ask you if you received it and if you already returned it. Because you didn't receive it yet, you will be issued a new ballot and may vote at the polls.

Likewise, if you received your absentee ballot, but did not return it yet, you will be issued a new ballot and may vote at the polls.

As long as you haven't already returned an absentee ballot (by mail, drop off, or any other method) -- you have the right to be issued a new ballot and vote in person on election day.

If you received your absentee ballot, and already returned it (with or without a witness signature or other statement), you will not be allowed to vote at the polling place.

There are no in-person ballot drop offs allowed after April 7th -- including for print-at-home ballots. If you are utilizing a drop box on election day, be sure to check the "last pickup time" and don't wait until the last minute. Clerks will be emptying drop boxes before 8:00 so they can get the ballots back to their office by the 8:00 PM deadline.

Report problems with absentee ballots here: https://www.wheresmyballotwi.org/

If you have questions, or need help or additional resources, Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)!
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Deciphering what IS and ISN’T in latest COVID-19 package

3/27/2020

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From the Raising Women's Voices :

Today, Congress is expected to give final approval to a $2.2 trillion relief package designed to respond to both the health and economic crises created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The president has said he will sign it. Called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the package is also known as “phase 3” because two earlier COVID-related funding bills have already been enacted (including one we covered last week), this week’s package is the largest spending bill (by far) ever passed in the United States — 2.8 times bigger than the 2009 stimulus package. The bill came together quickly over the course of 10 days and was negotiated largely without public input. 

There have been conflicting reports about what the package does and does not do, and we may not know for weeks what certain provisions mean in practice or how the administration is going to implement them. But we can give you a sense of the top line impact on women and families. 

Based on our initial reviews of the legislation, the bill does the following things: 
  • Creates a new unemployment benefit of $600 per week (called Federal Pandemic - Unemployment Compensation) on top of existing state benefits, effective from April through the end of July. Part-time, self-employed, gig economy workers and those with limited work histories are covered even if they would not otherwise be eligible for existing unemployment benefits. This is particularly important for women, who are more likely to serve as family caretakers, work part-time, work as independent maids, nannies, or home health aides or otherwise engage in work that doesn’t make them eligible for traditional unemployment. The package also includes an extra 13 weeks of coverage for workers who have already exhausted existing benefits.  The new benefit would be taxable (as existing benefits are) but would not count against income eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP. We don’t yet know whether it would affect eligibility for financial assistance (premium support) for ACA health coverage. Because the benefit comes on top of state unemployment assistance, some workers could see their weekly pay increase over what they would have earned while working. There hasn’t been much discussion yet about what that would mean for the ACA, but it could create a situation where some current ACA enrollees have to pay back a part of their premium support next year, absent a congressional fix. 
  • Makes a one-time direct payment of $1,200 per adult ($2,400 per couple) and $500 per dependent child (on top of any unemployment received). The benefit phases out for individuals earning more than $75,000 (or $150,000 per couple) and will be distributed as an advance refund (in the form of checks or direct deposit). To receive the benefit, individuals must have filed a tax return in 2019 or 2018. Separately, the IRS has extended the 2019 tax filing deadline to July 15.   The disturbing news is that limiting eligibility to people who have filed a tax return ensures that a number of low-income and homeless individuals will never benefit, although the IRS may work with other safety net agencies to distribute checks. Just as troubling, it appears that millions of immigrant families may be excluded from receiving the benefit even if they file federal taxes. The Miami Herald reports that “if someone lives in a “mixed-status” household — meaning that if anyone in the family (tax filers and their children) uses an ITIN — an individual taxpayer identification number — rather than a Social Security number, the family does not qualify for the relief payment.”  
  • Creates a $504 billion bailout fund for large businesses, with a special focus on airlines. The legislation nominally prevents bailed-out firms from boosting executive salaries or using the funds for stock buybacks, and prohibits the president, vice president, federal lawmakers, cabinet members, or their close family members from benefiting from the program. But it’s not clear how tightly drafted the language is or how well those rules will be enforced. 
  • Creates a separate $377 billion fund for small businesses and non-profits (under 500 employees) through zero-interest loans which can be forgiven if the funds are used for “covering employee salaries, rent, paid leave, utility payments, health insurance premiums or other necessities or worker protections,” according to the Washington Post. Republicans initially tried to exclude all health care non-profits that accept Medicaid reimbursement in an effort to block Planned Parenthood clinics from receiving funds. While that provision was scrapped, there are conflicting reports about whether individual Planned Parenthood affiliates will be eligible as small entities or whether the Small Business Administration will exclude them by arguing that they’re part of the larger national organization. 
  • Includes $175 billion in emergency aid to states and local governments and $180 billion for health care infrastructure, of which $100 billion is set aside for grants to hospitals, public and nonprofit health organizations and Medicare and Medicaid suppliers hardest hit by the outbreak. Funds can be used for personal protective equipment like masks and gowns, testing supplies, ventilators, and more. 
  • Gives states $400 million to help prepare for holding the 2020 elections in the midst of a pandemic by expanding absentee voting and adding polling locations to reduce lines — although the amount is far less than what’s needed. Primary elections have been delayed in 13 states over health concerns and although states don’t have the authority to delay federal elections absent congressional action, the delays have raised red flags for experts. A House version included critical language mandating a nationwide vote-by-mail option and days of early voting that advocates should continue to push for. While it’s impossible to know how the pandemic will affect the elections, everyone deserves a safe way to vote. 
  • Includes a smattering of smaller scale health  provisions, including expanding coverage for testing and a future vaccine, changing what health savings accounts (HSAs) can cover (by adding menstrual products and non-prescription drugs, among other things), and increasing and extending funds (set to expire in May) for community health centers and other agencies and programs. Health Affairs discusses these provisions in more detail here. Importantly, the bill also clarifies language from the “phase 2” package to ensure that Medicaid recipients with limited benefits (for example, those only receiving pregnancy-related coverage) will have access to COVID-19 services. 
  • And much more. Other provisions of the bill include a short-term pause on student loan payments without accruing interest, a pause on credit reporting, limited mortgage forbearance, support for farmers and food banks, additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or food stamps), though no boost in SNAP benefits, changes to the tax code, funds for public transit systems, and more.

As massive as the package is, however, it almost certainly doesn’t go far enough in helping families, funding health care or preparing for the future. One indication of how deep the looming recession is likely to be: initial unemployment claims spiked to 3.3 million last week, more than quadrupling the highest number of initial jobless claims ever recorded in the US. (For contrast, initial unemployment claims peaked at 665,000 during the Great Recession.) 

Members of Congress are already talking about a possible “phase 4” COVID-19 package. But alarmingly, both chambers are preparing to recess for weeks without a clear plan in place for how to vote (or meet with constituents) in the face of this once-in-a-century pandemic. What happens if our senators and representatives can’t fly back to Washington for a vote? How can Congress hold the Trump administration accountable for their disastrous handling of the pandemic, or push for increased production of health care equipment, if they aren’t here? 

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Safer at Home Guide from Wisconsin Literacy

3/26/2020

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Governor Tony Evers declared a Stay at Home order. What does it mean?
  • You must stay home.
  • Do not leave your residence (the place where you live).
  • You must follow social distancing. (More information below)

For how long?
  • Wednesday, March 25 at 8:00 a.m. - Friday, April 24 at 8:00 a.m.
  • The end date can change.

Can I leave my home for any reason? You can leave for essential activities. You can go to a:
  • grocery store
  • pharmacy
  • clinic (appointments or urgent care -- call the clinic first)
  • hospital (appointments or emergency room -- call first)
  • restaurant (ONLY drive-through or take-out)
  • bank drive-through
  • school (for free meals or learning supplies)
  • hardware store
  • motel, hotel, or shelter (if your home is not safe)

You can also:
  • exercise outside: walk, run, bike, and hike (follow social distancing)
  • take care of family members or friends who need help.
  • take food or supplies to family members or friends who need help.
  •  follow custody agreements and transportation schedules for your
  • children.

If you are an employee at an essential business, you can go to:
  • work
  • childcare

Do I need special permission or paperwork to leave my home?
No. You do not need special permission or paperwork if you leave for a reason
listed above (an essential activity).

What are NOT essential activities? You cannot go to:
  • playgrounds
  • playdates with other children
  • visit friends or family who do not live with you
  • play team sports (basketball, Frisbee, soccer, football, etc.)
  • parties (any number of people)
  • amusement activities (zoo, swimming pool, movie theater, etc.)
  • gyms or fitness centers
  • salons (hair, nails, waxing, tanning)
  • barber shops
  • tattoo parlors

What if I’m homeless?
  • You will not get in trouble if you do not have a home to stay in.
  • Try to find a shelter where you can stay most of the time.

What if my home is not safe?
  • Leave your home, if you are not safe.
  • Stay in a safe place (hotel, motel, shelter, with a friend or family)

What is social distancing?
  •  You must stay 6 feet away from all people you do not live with:
    • outside
    • on the bus
    • in any building (grocery store, clinic, pharmacy)
  • Kids must stay 6 feet away from other kids in the neighborhood or apartment building.
  • Do not shake hands or hug people you do not live with.

What about my business?
Non-essential businesses must close:
  • landscaping
  • personal care (hair, nails, waxing, tattoo, tanning)
  • amusement or party services
  • gyms
  • fitness classes
  • pet grooming
  • restaurant on-site dining (you can offer drive-through and take-out)
  • residential cleaning services

What if I don’t follow this order?
You might have to:
  • pay a fine (up to $250)
  • spend up to 30 days in jail

Link here for Spanish version
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The Facts About the "Public Charge" & Health Insurance for Immigrants

11/12/2019

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wawh_public_charge_fact_sheet_11_19-3.pdf
File Size: 218 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

On October 11, 2019 judges stopped the new "public charge" rule from taking effect. This may change, but in the meantime, it it NOT in effect.

What is "public charge"?
When a person applies for a visa or green card, immigration officials may use the“public charge” test to determine if they are likely to need help paying for things like food, housing or health care in the future. Someone judged a “public charge” can be denied a visa or green card, unless they qualify for an exemption.

"Public charge" does NOT affect you if you live in the US and...
  • You are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) with a green card and you have not left the US for more than 6 months at a time
  • You are a US citizen
  • You are in the US as a refugee or asylee
  • You are in the US as a survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, or other violent crimes (using T visa, U visa or VAWA self-petition)

If you are in one of these groups, you will NOT face a "public charge" test. You can enroll in any health plan without concern for public charge.


If you are NOT in one of the four groups listed on the front of this fact sheet, you may face the "public charge" test when you apply for a visa or green card.

What health care coverage may count against you in a "public charge" test?
The ONLY health insurance program that MAY count against you in a "public charge" test is regular Medicaid, known as BadgerCare in Wisconsin.

Which Medicaid program will NOT count against you in a "pubic charge" test?
  • Emergency Medicaid
  • Medicaid benefits covered without federal
  • Medicaid for pregnant women
  • Medicaid for children under the age of 21

What are the OTHER health care programs that DO NOT count in a "public charge" test?
  • Premium tax credits (subsidies) for health plans sold on healthcare.gov
  • Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
  • Ryan White Program
  • Free or low-cost care at community health centers
  • School-based health programs


If you are concerned about "public charge", talk  to someone who can help you look at all your options. Got to ailalawyer.com to fina an immigration lawyer near you.


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Gun Reform Special Session on 11/7/19

11/5/2019

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Why is strong gun reform a high priority for WAWH? Gun violence is a women’s health issue and a domestic abuse issue. More than 50% of intimate partner homicide victims in American are killed by males with a gun, and in over 50% of mass shootings the victims were intimate partners or family members. [2] The presence of a gun in domestic violence situations can increase the risk of homicide for women by as much as 500 percent.[3] 


Gov. Tony Evers has called the legislature into special session November 7th to take up gun reform legislation.  The two bills to be taken up this week are bills that address Background Checks loopholes (AB 431) and Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). 

As of 11/4/19, there have been 357 mass shootings, 32,991 people killed and 24,983 people injured by guns in our country this year [1]. These numbers include 589 children injured or killed age 11 and under, and 2,580 teens ages 12-17. As you read this, these numbers are already outdated, because with each passing day, they rise.
 
After each mass shooting, people express outrage, anger, sadness. A common theme echoes across social media platforms, the helplessness to make it stop. The attention quickly fades away, until the next major mass shooting - which we all know is coming, we just don’t know when or where.
 
It is well within the power of our state legislators change this cycle, but to date Wisconsin's Republican-led legislature has not engaged on gun reform despite polling on this issue showing that 80% of Wisconsin voters support universal background check legislation, including 75% of households that own a gun. However the gun lobby, in particular the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), has very deep pockets, and their priorities are not in line with the general public.
 
We need our legislators to listen to their constituents, the people who elected them to their positions, and pass laws that will reduce gun deaths and violence in Wisconsin. We need to make our schools, churches and public places safer. Governor Evers has made it clear that he supports meaningful gun reform and would sign good legislation into law. Public support is firmly behind smart measures to curb violence, including universal background checks.
 
Below is an outline of some of the strong gun reform legislation introduced in Wisconsin this session that WAWH supports.  Please contact your legislators to ask them to protect Wisconsin by supporting and ensuring these bills become law. This isn’t about political and partisanship, it is about saving lives.
 
Universal Background Checks:
Wisconsin’s needs to enact Universal Background Check legislation as it has been proven to save women’s lives. In states that have universal background checks, women are 46% less likely to be shot to death by intimate partners. A 2018 poll showed that the vast majority, a whopping  81% of Wisconsin voters are in favor of background checks, including 78% of gun-owning households[4].
 
Rep. Sargent and Sen. Johnson introduced AB431, a Universal Background Check bill that would close Wisconsin’s current loopholes. Currently a background check is not required when guns are purchased at a gun show or via a private seller. Governor Evers is strongly in support of this legislation, and would sign it into law if it passed the Assembly and Senate.  However, Republican leadership has been vocal about their unwillingness to engage despite such strong public support. Pressure needs to mount on this issue. Our legislators on both sides of the aisle need to make this a priority.

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO):
Rep. Sargent and Sen. Taylor just introduced AB573/SB530, which would create an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) process where if a person is likely to injure themselves or another, a family member or law enforcement officer can petition to temporarily prevent the person from possessing a firearm. 

Red Flag Laws:
Assembly Bill 334, introduced in early July, would prohibit individuals convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence from possessing a firearm and possession of a firearm by people found not guilty due to mental disease or defect. Given the documented nexus between domestic abuse and gun homicides, this legislation is crucial to protect lives.
 
48-Hour Waiting Period:
Senate Bill 312, introduced on June 7th (National Gun Violence Awareness Day), would restore Wisconsin’s 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases. Wisconsin had a waiting period on the books until 2015, when the Wisconsin legislature eliminated the requirement that a federally licensed firearm dealer wait 48 hours to transfer a handgun. Research has shown that waiting periods can reduce gun homicides by 17% and gun suicides by  7-11%. [5] Wisconsin needs this legislation restored.
 
We are not helpless. We have the power of our vote and must reach out to our elected officials to make our expectations crystal clear. Good legislation, aimed at reducing gun violence and deaths, is introduced each session just to be ignored and languish. Given what we know about gun violence, and the proven effectiveness of specific types of legislation, inaction by legislators equals complicity.
 
What you can do:​
  • Contact your state legislators 
  • Find out where they stand on gun reform and ask them to support these important bills
  • Ask them to ensure these bills receive public hearings and are brought to the floor for a vote
  • Let them know that gun reform is a priority to you, AS A VOTER IN THEIR DISTRICT.  
 
[1] https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6628a1.htm

[3] https://www.thehotline.org/resources/firearms-dv/

[4]https://law.marquette.edu/poll/2018/03/05/new-marquette-law-school-poll-finds-wisconsin-voters-divided-on-benefits-of-foxconn-deal-but-together-in-support-of-background-checks-for-gun-sales/

[5]https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/34372583/luca%2Cmalhotra%2Cpoliquin_handgun-waiting-periods.pdf?sequence=4


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Beware of Fake Health Centers!

9/27/2019

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At a time when women need access to as much evidence-based, medically accurate information about their reproductive health as possible, there is a wide-spread effort to mislead and lie to women through so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" or CPCs, fake health clinics run by anti-choice organizations.

There are more than 3,000 CPCs across the country (over 80 in Wisconsin), and they are usually strategically located near hospitals and abortion clinics in order to confuse or harass women. They may offer free ultrasounds, pregnancy tests, and diapers, despite often having no doctors or licensed medical professionals on the premises. Their websites typically advertise “abortion information” and "pregnancy options counseling," or carry slogans like “We inform. You decide.”

However, these centers are not licensed medical facilities, and they neither provide nor refer patients for abortion care. Instead, they actively dissuade pregnant people from seeking and obtaining abortions by manipulating and shaming pregnant people, and by spreading falsehoods regarding the safety and outcomes of the safe and legal medical procedure. Much of this misinformation is fabricated based loosely on flawed, biased, or outdated studies, and does not in any way reflect the current scientific and medical evidence regarding abortion care.

What are these fake health centers?
These centers pretend to be medical clinics that offer health care services and
all-options counseling for pregnant people. THEY DO NOT. These fake centers are funded by anti-abortion groups and go by different names like "crisis pregnancy centers" (CPCs) and "pregnancy resource centers." Their aim is to prevent people who are pregnant from accessing abortion in a timely manner. They advertise services such as pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, counseling, and resources. Some even say they offer abortion referrals. However, in reality, they fail to provide medically accurate information and even mislead women about their abortion care options.

If you notice any of these signs, it may be a fake health center:
  • They are not willing to give you any information about their services over the phone, or require that you visit them in person. A center that is not up front about their services is probably hiding something.
  • The center's website or printed materials don't mention any licensed medical staff.
  • They tell pregnant people that they are either too early or too late for an abortion.
  • They require visitors to read or listen to religious materials.
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Learn more about our efforts to expose these fake clinics.

To seek medical care from someone you can trust at a licensed family planning center:
  • Visit www.besafewi.org or call 1-800-230-PLAN to find a Planned Parenthood Health Center in Wisconsin
  • Visit opa-fpclinicdb.hhs.gov to locate other licensed Family Planning Centers in Wisconsin
  • Call the MCH Program Phone Line: (608) 266-8178
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