IM DONE!

I HAVE HAD IT WITH MY DOCTOR, WITH MY CASE MANAGER, WITH THE WHOLE DAMN CLINIC!  I REFUSE TO GO THERE ANYMORE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE ONLY CLINIC I AM ALLOWED TO GO TO.  

HERE IN AZ, IF YOU ARE ON MEDICAID, AND YOU ARE DETERMINED TO BE ‘SMI’ (SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILL)  YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO GO TO ONE OF FIVE CLINICS FOR ‘SMI’S.  YOU ARE ASSIGNED TO THE ONE CLOSEST TO YOU, AND CANNOT JUST SWITCH.  ALSO, THEY ARE ALL RUN BY THE SAME AGENCY THAT CONTRACTS FOR MENTAL HEALTHCARE FOR MEDICAID FOR THE STATE.  SO THEY ARE ALL THE SAME.

SO I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS FOR WHERE TO RECEIVE MENTAL HEALTH CARE.  I CANNOT GO TO A ‘GENERAL POPULATION’ MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC, BECAUSE I AM ‘SMI’.  I CANNOT GO TO A DOCTOR WHO IS IN MY MEDICARE PROVIDER LIST, BECAUSE THEY DON’T ACCEPT MEDICAID PAYMENTS.  SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE MONTHLY PREMIUM MYSELF FOR MEDICARE PART B, AND I WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE DEDUCTIBLE FOR PART B AS WELL BEFORE MEDICARE WOULD PAY ITS 50% FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.  IF I USE A PROVIDER FROM AN SMI CLINIC, THEN MY MEDICAID IS ACCEPTED, AND THE TOTAL BILL IS PAID.  ALSO, IF I GO TO AN SMI CLINIC, MEDICAID WILL PAY MY PART B DEDUCTIBLES AND PREMIUMS AND COPAYS.

SO I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE THAN TO STOP SEEING A PSYCHIATRIST, SINCE I REFUSE TO KEEP BEING TREATED LIKE CRAP AND NOT HAVING MY NEEDS MET AT THE SMI CLINIC THAT IS THE ONLY ONE I AM ALLOWED TO USE.

SINCE I AM NO LONGER GOING TO GO THERE, I CAN NOT GET MEDS ANYMORE.  SINCE I AM NOT GOING THERE, I CANNOT GET TEGRETOL LABS DONE SO MY NEPHROLIGIST DOES NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TO ADJUST MY MEDS FOR THE ACIDOSIS AND EDEMA I HAVE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE LITHIUM AND WORSENED BY THE SWITCH OFF OF IT TO FIRST DEPOKATE AND NOW TEGRETOL.  SO HE CANNOT HELP ME IF I CANT GET PSYCHIATRIC LABS DONE.

OF COURSE, THIS ALSO MEANS THAT I CANNOT FINISH MY PHP PROGRAM (PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION), BECAUSE IN ORDER TO BE IN IT, YOU MUST HAVE AN OUTPATIENT PRESCRIBING PROVIDER.  AND SINCE I NO LONGER DO, WELL, THAT AVENUE IS NOW CLOSED TOO.

SO I AM NO LONGER SEEING ANY DOCS OR GETTING ANY MEDS OR PARTICIPATING IN THE PHP PROGRAM.  I AM GOING IT ALONE, SINCE I AM THE ONLY PERSON I CAN COUNT ON TO BE ON MY SIDE. IT IS TRUE WHAT THEY SAY–ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR NUMBER ONE, CAUSE NO ONE ELSE WILL.

I WILL DO ALL THE THINGS I KNOW TO DO TO TRY TO STAY STABLE, AND IF I CANT, WELL, I CAN ACCEPT THAT I WILL HAVE MANIC AND DEPRESSED AND MIXED EPISODES AND THAT I WILL JUST HAVE TO TOUGH MY WAY THROUGH THEM OR GIVE IN.  AT LEAST I WILL NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS OF THE DOCTORS OR BE DEPENDENT ON THEM FOR THINGS THAT THEY FAIL TO DO, FOR FAILING TO LISTEN TO ME AND MY SYMPTOMS.  I WILL TAKE CARE OF ME FROM NOW ON, WITH EPISODES OR NOT, AND DO THE BEST I CAN.

OF COURSE, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE SMI CLINICS HAVE THE RIGHT TO PETITION AND COURT ORDER ANY PATIENT WHO REFUSES TREATMENT AND REFUSES TO TAKE MEDS OR KEEP APPOINTMENTS.  IN OTHER WORDS, BECAUSE YOU ARE SMI, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT YOU DONT HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TREATMENT AND THEY CAN COMMIT YOU.  I SAY, BRING IT ON, BITCHES!  

I knew I Shoulda Kept My Mouth Shut

i should never have said i was feeling the teensiest tinsiest bit better, a tad bit happy even.  because after i spent a great session i went home and found out that the agency that will be providing behavioural health services to the state Medicaid beneficiaries has been changed effective April 1.  OK, no so bad by itself.  but the then the letter says since MI is going to now be providing all Medicaid people with mental healthcare, they decided it would also be more efficient (and allow them to more closely monitor their conditions) that they will force any people who are ‘SMI”, or Seriously Mentally Ill (basically if you are unable to really work a real job full time due to mental illness—and that is me—)  all Medicaid mental health beneficiaries who are SMI will be forced to change their Medicaid insurance plan to the MI plan as well (the one that will be providing general mental health and SMI—if you are SMI, you will also be forced to use MI plan for all you PHYSICAL healthcare as well.  If i am forced to change to their Medicaid physical health plan, then i will automatically be dumped from my Medicare plan since, it is a dual plan, meaning my current plan gives me all my Medicare and Mediciad physical health coverage.  If i am forced to drop my physical Medicaid plan because I am SMI, then I will also be forced to drop my Medicare plan, and the only plan I will be able to get for my Medicare services would just happen to be, yes, you guessed it, the new MI plan.  So, because my mental health care is categorized as SMI, and MI is now going to provide all SMI and regular mental health Medicaid services, I will be forced to change my Medicaid physical health plan as well.  And, if I am forced to do that, then I will also be forced to drop my Medicare plan and again go to the MI plan.

I have seldom felt more raped, abused, beaten and whipped than I do right now.  I no longer have choice of Medicaid physical health plans, I no longer have choice of Medicare physical plans, and it is all because I am listed as SMI instead of ‘regular mental health’.  So, this insurance plan gets to force anyone listed as SMI to take all of their insurances, but those listed as general mental health get to choose their Medicaid plans and if they are on Medicare, they also get to choose that plan.  But not us SMI–apparently since we are such a ‘sick’ population, we dont’ get the right of choice in healthcare, on insurance, rx, or on doctors.  I will have to stop seeing all my doctors.  All.  And get all new ones covered by MI instead.  Why should I be persecuted just because I have a more Serious Mental Illness than some?  Why should my choice of insurance and doctors be taken from me?  What will I do without my therapist?  I have been working with her almost 3 yrs and I am just going to be forced to change within the next 6 mo.  And i will lose my psychiatrist, my case manager, my nurse, not too mention all of my non mental health related providers.

Well, I shouldnt have talked about starting to feel better.  I should have known something like this would come along.  It always does.  And now it has.  And now i wish i never started to heal, to feel better, i wont win anyway.  i wont accept what they say. and since i cant keep seeing my therapist, or any other providers, there is nothing for me to gain–only lose, i wont let them win by forcing me to take something i dont want instead, i wont roll over and play dead, i wont let them control me.  so maybe i die,but they lose to. they wont make me say ‘thank you may i have some more’ either.  they’ll see what happens when they try to take away control from the people they are supposedly trying to help.  even one person refusing to be abused by them and dying will be enough to make the state take a look at what they are allowing MI to do underneath their very noses to the ‘vulnerable’ population they claim to be serving.

At What Point Is It Actually Worth It?

I just found out, since moving (and thus changing the branch of the pharmacy that I use) that for the entire last year I was paying copays on all of my mental health-related meds when I was supposed to be getting all of them for free between my Medicare and Medicaid.  This is only true for psych meds–meds for physical conditions I do have to pay a copay for that Medicaid will not cover.

Anyway, the point is, when added all up, its about $70.  Now, in my book, that is a chunk and I could do a lot with that chunk.  But on the other hand, if I need to physically interface with my alternate second payer for mental health meds (aka Magellan), that could be enough to drag me back down and drown me.   So, I don’t know how much work it will be, how many forms they will ask for, or how long it will take.  And I really don’t know if they will be pleasant to deal with either.  I do tend to have defensiveness and hostility issues when trying to get something from someplace that should make it right, but doesn’t want to, with me.  And this amount is just right on the cusp, I could go either way.  It’s enough to be a good chunk that I could really use, but if I’m gonna turn into a screaming mimi because of attitude by the reps, or because of the paperwork, or because of how long it could take,  I don’t want to get myself so frustrated and out of joint that I go off the deep-end either.

 

Moving Right Along

I’m probably jinxing myself by even thinking this, but, throwing caution to the winds, I think I’m actually doing all right.  I’m starting going to groups at my clinic this week (fingers crossed that no obstacles appear) and I’m going to be asking my Rehab Specialist at the clinic help me to get a part time job (under @720/mo-so I won’t lose my SSDI or Medicare/Medicaid).  I really feel I am in a place where I can look forward to a day a work–finally.  I haven’t even been able to picture myself trying to work since 2006.  Before, just thinking about having to leave the house for any reason was so overwhelming that I have basically been a hermit.  The only things I have really been able to get myself to leave the house for has been medical/psych appointments and grocery shopping.   So, I think this new perspective is really amazing, where now I am not avoiding opportunities to leave the house, but am actively pursuing reasons to go out, and they are not overwhelming and scary now, but sound interesting/exciting/fun.

Well, unless I have jinxed myself by sharing this, I hope to finally start moving forward.  Maybe, there really is recovery-at least enough to enjoy life again.

If It Wasn’t For Bad Luck, I Wouldn’t Have No Luck At All…

Ah, Cream…one of my favorite bands.  And they got it so so right in this song.  Although I wasn’t born yet when they wrote it, I think somehow they knew they were writing this about me.  I just found out I am being denied subsidized housing, after being on the list for 5 years, and after being in subsidized housing just 6 months ago (but had to move because of my ‘friend’, B, who had a stroke, and they wouldn’t let her move in).  So, in just 6 short months, they are now claiming that I am over the limit by $60/mo!! Yes, that extra $60 really makes a difference–I so don’t need any help with rent cuz of that big whopping $60 each month!  And just how much is that per year?  A ginormous $400 over the limit.  Wow!  I feel so glad to know I should be able to afford housing on my own because I have an extra $60/ mo.  I shouldn’t be bitching that my rent takes up 2/3 of total income.  I should be praising the subsidized housing gods for wasting 5 years of my life on empty promises, knowing that now I should have smooth sailing because I can afford to pay ‘normal’ rent, all because of the $60.  And what about my being in subsidized housing a mere 6 months ago, and now not qualifying?  Turns out the extra $400 a year is from one extra child support payment my ex made in Feb, because he wanted a passport to go to China to see his fiancee.  In order to get it approved, he had to pay extra to me just in case he didn’t come back.  So, my ex’s lovelife has torpedoed my shot at subsidized housing.  And the housing authority didn’t even care that the payment was a one time thing, that he won’t have to do it again if he travels,  that if you remove that one payment from my 12 month income, I would qualify and be getting help, just like I did 6 months ago.  I asked if I could appeal, and the so lovely and sympathetic (sarcasm) lady said no.  No, there is no appeal.  There is no having this issue brought to someone higher up.  This is it.  One extra child support payment and now I’m so fucking rich I don’t need assistance.  Yep, I can now easily afford to pay 2/3 of my income to rent, and the final third to bills and food.  Wow.  I feel great being so rich.  And get this, I now am still approved for food stamps, but the amount they give me each month is $0.  Wow!  I feel so blessed to be so rich.  I’m struggling more than people with $60 less income now.  Aren’t I fucking special?!  Now, I’m terrified they are going to take away my dual eligibility (If you’re poor enough, and you’re on medicare for disabled people, you also qualify to get the remainder of you medical expenses paid by the state medicaid program).  So, now I’m afraid they take my medicaid and I’ll end up having to pay premiums, deductibles, copays and 50% of all services rendered by medicare. Which I obviously can’t afford to pay, which would mean that even though I’d still have medicare paying half the cost of services, it would still be too expensive for me to go to my doctors, or to get my medications.  So, if they take my medicaid, I pretty much lose all insurance since I won’t be able to afford to use the remaining coverage.  Anyway, that’s the only benefit I still have that hasn’t been taken away (so far) because of $60.

So, ya, all that sounds fair, right?  and I should be tickled to be so rich, right?  And this is Good luck?  I don’t think so….But that’s my kind of luck, anyway, the kind that keeps on kicking you when you’re down.  Is it any wonder every time I try to pull myself up, I find myself kicked back down to the floor again?  No wonder I can’t ever get anywhere, improve my situation.  I’m destined to stay in the gutter no matter what or how hard I work to move up.

New Horizons: Fears and Anxieties

First off, to those of you who follow me, I am so sorry I haven’t written recently.  But I have been reading and doing things in real life—this is a first in many years!   So, what have I been doing?  I have been getting up earlier (without an alarm!), I have been looking for a small part time job, and even applied at Target (it’s across the street, and I love shopping there!)  As long as I don’t work too much, I won’t lose any of my Disability benefits like Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid.  And that’s fine by me…I don’t want to work too much just yet!  What else?  Oh, yes, I changed ‘teams’ at my mental health clinic.  My med provider was always triggering me every time I went in for a med check.  Even when I would remind myself that he is just like that, he just seemed to always get me to react.  The most recent visit he asked if I was suicidal (standard protocol for mental health patients) and when I said sometimes he told me not to do it because my soul would get stuck inbetween planes and he knew this was true cause his grandfather told him so.  My team nurse can’t draw my blood, so I can’t use the lab at the clinic so I have to drive across town to a free-standing lab instead.  And my Rehab liasion insists to me that I cannot possibly have an open case and a case manager at Voc Rehab, because I didn’t meet with the VR counselor who visits the clinic once a month to do it.  She insists I could not have possibly have opened a case with VR myself (which I did 2 years ago) and that in order for me to get VR services I must close this supposed case and then open one with the VR counselor who visits the clinic instead.  Now, what I want to know is, why should I close a case just to open one?  Why go through all the work of that again, when all the information is already there?  Why can’t my VR counselor just transfer my case and files to the one who comes to the clinic? But my clinic Rehab liasion insists this is impossible.  She has no proof, no evidence, nothing to support her position.  She just keeps repeating that it is impossible, until I am ready to jump over the table and strangle her!!  So, since that is my current ‘team’, it finally occurred to me to switch teams.  It can’t possibly be worse.  Cause right now, all my ‘team’ members are horrible and triggering.  It can’t possibly be worse with another team, although I admit, it may possibly not be better… but we’ll take that chance.  We can always switch teams again!

So, what have I been up to?  I have been up to taking care of myself and feeling better!  I also am now volunteering at the animal shelter where I got my dog, looking for a job,  and switching teams at my clinic…and having a much, much easier time getting out and about, doing tasks more easily.  The only thing now is, how long will this last?  I know I shouldn’t be thinking about that.  But I haven’t felt this good in over 7 years.  For the last 7 years, I have been wearing a suit of armor and slogging through quicksand to do anything.  It has been so difficult that I have been able to do very, very little in all that time.  But the quicksand is gone now, and the suit of armor has been shed.  Movement feels easy again.  But how do I know this will last?  I mean, I have gone so long looking for it I’m not sure it’s real.  I want it so badly to be real, but at the same time I am afraid to believe it is real because it is probably only fleeting, and if I rely on it being real I will make commitments and plans and not be able to follow through on them as this feeling of well being slides away again, leaving me back in the quagmire, sinking all over again.  I am just as afraid as I am excited to get a job, to volunteer.  I am afraid that after 7 years of NOT doing anything useful, anything with a commitment, that I will fail.  And if I fail, that I will end up in the depths of despair yet again.  I am afraid of ruining this good feeling by failing at living and also afraid that even if I do well at these tasks that this good feeling will escape me also.  I’m so afraid of jinxing it, I’m not sure if I want to follow through on these ‘good’ commitments so I won’t be let down.  And yet, if I don’t try, I will never know if it might work out, if I might succeed, get well, become productive.  So I am trying to take it one day at a time trying to not think about anything more, success or failure, fleeting or staying well-being.

Just Shut UP and Agree!

I have drilled SO many things into my head over the years, by me (to remember what to do or not do) and by others (like, you’re worthless, stupid, crazy, etc.) and now these things are automatics, things I accept now.  So why can’t I drill something in now?  Especially since it’s something I’ve been trying to drill in to remember automatically for a really long time.  I keep trying to remember to just agree and keep my mouth shut!  but I can’t seem to get it in there for some reason.

In my state, there are 3 paths of mental health care: 1) Private Pay, 2) Medicare and/or Medicaid—a) SMI (seriously mentally ill) or General Mental Health (‘regularly’ ill, I guess).  S MI people are required to go to only specific clinics that see only SMI people.  You are supposed to get more care, more support services, etc. this way.  All GMH people can go to any clinic other than SMI clinics.  So, I am classed as SMI, and go the SMI clinic I was assigned to.  The problem is, not only do they not really provide extra services or supports, I get upset EVERYTIME  I go there!  I can’t understand why they always manage to trigger me and get me to blow up!  I really can’t understand tho, why I don’t just REMEMBER to JUST SMILE AND AGREE!!   

I mean, what does it matter that my shrink thinks I drink too much water?  Instead of arguing my position and explaining why I drink that much, and getting ticked off with him, why can’t I just remember to SMILE AND AGREE?? When he asks me about my suicidal thoughts, and I tell him, and then he says ‘you don’t want to do that, your spirit would be stuck between places’, why do I have to get into a philosophical and theological debate?  Why can’t I just let it go and JUST AGREE?! Why, when he tells me my therapist is wrong about diagnosing me with DID, do I even try to argue?  Why can’t I just let it go and AGREE?  Why, when he tells me to see the nurse to get my lab slip and I do and she prints out the wrong one (as always) and I point it out, do I have to join in the argument that she thinks she’s right when I know I’m right?  Why can’t I just AGREE?!   When after my appointment I meet with my Case Manager (and today also my Rehab counselor) and the Rehab gal says even tho I already have a case open with Voc Rehab and all they needed to get me services was a packet from my clinic, I am working with the wrong Voc Rehab counselor and I need to come to the clinic to meet the correct one.  And I need to close my already open case and start all over, because I’m not doing it right and Voc Rehab does NOT need my packet from the clinic—I just need to start all over with the RIGHT Voc Rehab counselor at the clinic instead.  WHY can’t I just SHUT UP and AGREE with her instead?

I HATE going to my clinic!  I HATE that every time I go there, every person I talk with, everything I ask for or about, I am ALWAYS in the wrong.  I am ALWAYS getting triggered, and then Anti-Kitty jumps in.  Then We have to fight, as though it’s that important.  And We know none of this is THAT important.  Even if I AM usually right, is it really worth getting triggered and so upset that We switch and lose it with all the people we deal with in the clinic?  I don’t think it’s that important, even if I AM right.  I just want learn to remember to STOP ARGUING AND JUST AGREE!!! Why can”t I get this lesson into my head??  Why can’t I just agree instead of getting so upset and looking like the completely crazy psycho out of control patient they (get riled up in the first place) and expect to see?  Why can’t I just learn to AGREE? Why can’t we just quit letting them trigger us about everything by JUST AGREEING??  I just need to learn to remember to AGREE no matter what.

Worries Begone

Well the good news is I talked with my therapist about all the worrying I’ve been doing, things that are always in the back of my mind, and sometimes too much in the front of it.  And what is the good news?  I don’t have to worry about them!

My worries about not getting better and my opposite worries about actually getting better, DON’T have to be worries at all!  I was so relieved when she told me, even though I didn’t quite believe her at first.  But she explained that as long as I didn’t feel ready to go back to normal life, ready to work full time, then that meant I’m not ready yet.  And so, since I’ll be seeing her up to at least that point, that she will know I’m not ready (obviously!) and so I don’t need to worry about her saying to a Social Security review board that I am ready.  Ad she also said since I have been categorized by the state as ‘SMI’ (some states use this to group Seriously Mentally Ill persons into one system so they receive all or most of their services from a single location.) my case will remain open basically forever (even if I recover completely) as long as I need meds.    Sooo, the upshot is,  my therapist’s notes will show if I am ready to return to ‘normal life and work’ or if I’m not based on ME!  And my clinic will keep me active indefinitely.  So, I don’t need to worry about if I look too healthy for how I feel, or feel too depressed or fragile for how I look!  Which also means, I don’t need to worry about a Social Security review.    Long story short, nothing about my situation will change, until I’m ready for it to.

And she also said it is ok to feel both still not recovered AND better at the same time.  And that I will know it when I truly feel good again.

Anyway, I was just so thrilled with her explanation and reassurance that for the first time in 4 years I am not carrying those worrisome burdens around, wearing myself out being afraid of losing everything all over again.  Now, I can finally take that tumor out, worry less, feel more comfident, and free up space in my brain for other much more worthy worries.

Will I Ever Be Better

Am I healthy or am I sick? I am afraid of being thought to be healthy when I still don’t feel fully healthy.  I mean I do feel healthier than 4 years ago, but I still don’t feel completely healthy.  What if SSDI thinks I am healthy, completely healthy?  Or What if my psychiatrist or my therapist think so?  What if I’m let go of treatment (except just maintenance) and while I’m somewhat better, I’m not yet ready, not yet completely healthy?

What will I do if I lose my Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid?  If I’m forced to return to work, but can’t return to the level of work I worked before?  What if instead of working in healthcare as a unit supervisor instead I’m working at the local grocery store or WalMart?  How could I live on that income, and how could I afford insurance to stay on my meds and see my psychiatrist periodically for refills? What if I couldn’t even hack working full time at one of those places?  What if I have to go off my meds?  No matter how much better I am now than 4 years ago, I would still end up right back in that place I climbed out of then.  I would lose all the progress I made so far, and I would have no hope of getting out of that deep dark hole a second time.

I’m sure I don’t want to stay in the place I am now, or return to the place I climbed out of.  I don’t want to keep feeling hurt, anxious, scared, angry and confused.  I don’t want to keep being triggered and acting in ways I don’t really mean or intend or want to act.  I’m sure I do want to be better.  I do want to feel better.  I do want to live life and not just wait for life to and wish it would pass by faster.  I want to be in control of my actions, be able to choose what I say and do, even in triggering situations.  I don’t want to be sad, depressed and not find joy in life.  I don’t want to be overwhelmed and terrified when I go out into the world to live my life.

I know I want to be completely healthy.  I just don’t want anyone else to think I am before I do.  And I know people will say I am borrowing trouble by having these worries.  But I can’t help it.  I’m so afraid that because I am better than I was, that because I look like I’m functional, that people will think I really am well.  And if they do that, then I will lose everything I have gained this far, and maybe never get back to what I have now, much less ever become fully well.

All of these worries cause me to question how I feel.  Do I feel healthy?  Strong?  Confident?  Could I work at all?  Could I work full time?  How long could I keep that up til I broke and had to quit or get fired?  What would I do then?  Why do I still feel so weak?  So chronically exhausted all the time, and completely worn out if I do the slightest thing–like getting haircuts, or eating out.  Why do I still feel so fragile, like I could be broken in a strong wind, irreparably damaged?  And yet, at the same time, I see the evidence around me of how I am more able to do things, especially without losing control like I used to.  I am not as anxious when I am home like I used to be.  So I know I am improving but I am not yet fully healed.  And I am not sure how to feel about where I am right now.  Part of me says I am better while the other part says I am still sick.  The truth is somewhere inbetween, but how is that supposed to feel, or look?  I don’t know how I am now.  I only know how I am not.

Please Call!

 

PLEASE RE-POST!!!

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!!

For anyone who doesn’t already know, or in case I haven’t said it, I’m on Social Security Disability due to how my symptoms of my mental illnesses affect me, causing me to be unable to work, and well, basically, to do anything other than be a mom to my kids.  So, all the proposed changes and cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits are really really important to me (and anyone over 65, or who is disabled and cannot work).  So, I am posting a plea from the AMA Action Network that I received today to not allow anymore cuts to Social Security, and another from The Progressive Change Committe, asking to vote against stopping any new COLAs.  All it asks is that you call your State Representatives and ask them not to vote for the proposed changes that would stop any new Cost of Living Adjustments to those on Social Security Retirement or Disability and also to stop any further cuts.  I think this is a really important issue, and not just cuz I am receiving that benefit, but because one day, all of us will be elderly and will be depending on the Social Security Retirement benefit that we have paid into our entire working lives.  This proposal, by Obama (!), must not become law!

 

PLEASE RE-POST!!!

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!!

Ok, so here it is….:

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the Patients’ Action Network. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe.

Tell Congress: Failure in preventing Medicare cuts is not an option! Dear K, Inconceivably, patients are once again watching Congress come too close to the edge and risking irresponsible Medicare payment cuts. An impossibly steep 26.5 percent Medicare cut for all physician services is scheduled for Jan. 1 and the threat is growing day by day that Congress will do nothing but defer action until next year — once cuts have already been enacted. Inaction by Congress gambles with the access to care that Medicare patients rely on! Demand that Congress act before Jan.1 by contacting your representative and senators — send them an urgent email by clicking here and call their offices through our grassroots hotline at1-888-434-6200. Time and again lawmakers have agreed that the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and annual threat of cuts is flawed, only to respond with short-term solutions and partisan games instead of permanently resolving the problem. Allowing cuts to occur on Jan. 1 and waiting until next year to act will interrupt access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. Failure and mismanagement by Congress in preventing cuts would seriously undermine Medicare’s ability to act as a reliable health insurance program. This is unacceptable. For the health and benefit of patients, Congress must act before Jan. 1! Email and call today at 1-888-434-6200 back to top

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Call Rep. Flake today.

K,

URGENT: The Washington Post reports that President Obama just offered Republicans an “across-the-board cut in Social Security benefits.”

Action is needed now. Can you call Representative Jeff Flake and ask him to publicly oppose the White House deal? Click here for the number and a script.

Ironically, Republican members of Congress may be key to defeating a bad deal, so your call today will make a big difference.

The president’s proposal would cut cost of living adjustments for seniors (and veterans and others). You may hear policy wonks refer to this as “chained CPI.”

The Washingon Post explains, “Adopting chained CPI would, in effect, cut Social Security benefits.” Nobel economist Paul Krugman writes in the New York Times that “there’s no good policy reason to be doing this” and calls it “cruel and stupid.”

Our polls show that by 5 to 1, voters in swing states and even the president’s home state of Illinois oppose these cuts! That means even Republican politicians should care.

Can you give Rep. Flake a call today and ask him to publicly oppose the White House’s proposed deal?

Thanks for being a bold progressive.

— Stephanie Taylor, Adam Green, Matt Wall, Karissa Gerhke, and the PCCC team

P.S. Here are more things you can do today.

1) We’re organizing a “waterfall” of public comments from congressional offices and progressive allies, opposing these cuts. You can follow us on Twitter or on Facebook to witness the growing chorus!

2) Thousands of Americans are promising to hold accountable Democratic politicians who support cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits. Click here to join the accountability pledge.

3) We set up an ActBlue page to highlight and reward bold progressive members of Congress who are speaking out publicly today. Check them out and donate $3 to them here.

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Want to support our work? PCCC’s Draft Warren campaign was named The Nation’s “Most Valuable Campaign of 2011”! And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in $3 here.

Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee PAC (www.BoldProgressives.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Contributions to the PCCC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

 

PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM DISMANTLE SOCIAL SECURITY/ MEDICARE!!  WE WILL ALL BE RETIRED/ELDERLY ONE DAY!!  THOSE OF US ALREADY RETIRED OR DISABLED DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE!!  PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!!  PLEASE REPOST THIS POST ON YOUR BLOG!!  DO NOT LET OUR ELDERLY AND DISABLED BE FORCED TO THE STREET!!