Partners in Health & Wholeness

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Tell Your Story to Help Medicaid and Medicare

· by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

I was on a Faithful Reform in Health Care conference call this week and one of the participants was Cynthia Abrams from the United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society. She emphasized the need to share our personal stories with our Congress people. If you have a personal story about how Medicaid or Medicare has helped (or lack of health care has hurt) you, a member of your family, a member of your church, friend or neighbor– please share it with Senator Hagan by e-mail or phone, 202-224-6342, and/or Senator Burr by e-mail or phone, 202-224-3154. You can find out how to contact your Representative here.

We must continue to advocate forming a circle of protection around the most vunerable in our society. Some thoughts to remember:

Medicaid provides health insurance for 1 out of 3 children in our country.

Medicaid provides services for 7 out of 10 people living in nursing homes.

Medicaid provides services for pregnant women with family incomes below 133% of poverty line and people with disabilities.

— Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate for Health Reform

About Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Aleta Payne first joined the Council staff in the spring of 2001 as the Communications Associate. She continues to oversee that work along with development, represents the Council in several partnership efforts, and serves in other administrative roles, as well. Aleta is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in government and foreign affairs and spent much of her early career as a journalist. She has three young adult sons who continue to come home to Cary for dinner, or at least groceries, and two young adult terrier-mix dogs who keep the nest from feeling too empty.