07/26/21 - Missouri Mondays - A victory for the people! What’s next for Medicaid Expansion?
MEDICAID EXPANSION AND NEXT STEPS
Victory! On July 22, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the voters’ approval of Medicaid Expansion with a unanimous decision. Legislators must follow the constitution despite Republican attempts to thwart the people’s decision. What happens now? The case has been handed back to the trial court. Representative Peter Meredith said, ”We now move on to the next steps of working to fully fund Medicaid with the massive influx of federal dollars we will receive as a direct result of expansion finally being implemented.” If you or someone you know needs to sign up for Medicaid under the new expansion, The Missouri Democratic Caucus suggests the following: “While waiting on the specifics to get ironed out, our caucus experts believe those who believe they are eligible for Medicaid coverage can now take advantage of an enrollment process known as “presumptive eligibility.” Read more about the decision and next steps on the Missouri House Democratic Caucus website.
Celebrate this victory for 275,000 Missourians and learn about next steps on the Missouri Jobs with Justice Webinar TONIGHT at 5:30 on Zoom. RSVP to receive the link.
UPDATE ON SHAM HEARING ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY / 1619 PROJECT
Missouri again made national news last week when the Joint Committee on Education held a sham political hearing on the teaching of Critical Race Theory in Missouri’s K-12 schools. Critical Race Theory or CRT, which examines U.S. law and history through the lens of race, is typically taught in law school or graduate school. The invitation-only hearing heard testimony only from people who are critical of the theory. No Black parents, teachers or scholars testified before the committee. “Missouri NAACP President Rod Chapel called it ‘ridiculous’ to have a conversation about inequity while ‘excluding the very people who are saying we’ve been treated inequitably.’” NBC News, July 20
It became evident that those opposing the teaching of CRT neither understand it, nor even know that it is not typically taught in K-12 schools. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has now been tasked with surveying districts to determine if any are teaching CRT or material from The 1619 Project. Republican Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, Chair of the Committee, said that more opportunities for the public to weigh in will be provided in the future.
Further reading:
MENTAL HEALTH PARITY SIGNED INTO LAW
Again this week we want to take an opportunity to thank those legislators who work so hard for us in Missouri. Congratulations to State Representative Patty Lewis and State Senator Greg Razer whose work on mental health parity legislation was signed into law earlier this summer under the omnibus HB 604. The new law ensures that insurance providers must treat mental health and physical health conditions equitably. Limitations on mental health benefits cannot be treated differently from physical or surgical benefits.
“For far too long, we’ve failed to treat mental health in this state for truly what is — a health condition in need of treatment like any other condition. We’ve allowed hurdles to be placed in front of Missourians that make it harder for them to see a doctor and access medications,” Razer told The Missouri Times.
“As a registered nurse, I saw firsthand that treating mental health mattered just as much as treating someone’s physical needs,” Lewis said. “Bringing us in line with federal standards and recognizing the importance of holistic medicine will do so much to help members of our health care community and the people of this state.”
Our thanks to Rep. Lewis, Sen. Razer, and all of our hard-working state legislators!
HELP PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN MISSOURI!
MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC) MEETING
Monday July 26 at 10AM
Join Missouri Voter Protection Coalition Zoom meeting with statewide advocates working to protect the right to vote in Missouri.
Sign up HERE or text “MOVPC” to 66866 and watch for an email with details and the link to join the meeting
TELL GOV. PARSON IT IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE TO LEAVE AN INNOCENT MAN BEHIND BARS. PARDON KEVIN STRICKLAND IMMEDIATELY!
DEMAND THAT GOVERNOR PARSON PARDON STRICKLAND NOW!!
Phone Gov. Parson: 573-751-3222
Last week we shared the national news story about Missouri’s failure to free Kevin Strickland despite overwhelming evidence of his innocence. Gov. Parson has still not pardoned Strickland. Join the Heartland Alliance for Progress at 6:00 pm tonight to learn more about this case and ongoing efforts to gain him his freedom.
Register for this event and get a link for the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rfuusqD0pE90guTSRsr0H2c5hQlosxaCf
COVID UPDATE - MISSOURI SUFFERS WITH RISING CASES AND DEATHS
Week 7/19-26
Covid-19 continues to explode in Missouri among unvaccinated people. Our state joins Florida and Texas in accounting for 40% of all new cases in the country. As of Sunday, July 25, the state has reached a six-month high in the number of new Covid-19 cases. Over the last 14 days, daily average cases are up 70% in the state, and hospitalizations are up 39%. The Missouri DHSS has issued hotspot advisories for 22 counties. Springfield’s Mercy hospital has hit an all-time high in its number of Covid patients. Due to lack of leadership and mixed messages from top state officials, vaccination rates in Missouri stalled and led to devastating results. Even under these conditions, Republican leaders continue to advocate for “freedom” from life-saving measures. Attorney General Eric Schmitt plans to file a lawsuit against St. Louis county and the city of St. Louis over its recent mask mandates.
COVID RESOURCES
Find COVID-19 Vaccines statewide & KC Metro, COVID-19 Testing & Recovery Treatment KC Metro HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i1vCikZiGfMulA8tFCDSJbEKV5N37S1JU_TSlgs699A/edit?usp=sharing
PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK! LET’S GET VACCINATED MISSOURI!
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Missourians Vaccinated - as of Sunday July 25 The New York Times
41% of Missourians are fully vaccinated - (49% in the U.S.)
47% of Missourians have received at least one dose - (56% in the U.S.) ~~~~~~~~~~ Total COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Missouri
557,109 confirmed cases and 9557 deaths as of Sat July 24 MO Dept of Health and Senior Services
677,650 total cases and 10,203 deaths as of Sun July 25 The New York Times ~~~~~~~~~~
THANK YOU! for answering the Missouri Mondays CALL TO ACTION!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays email at moactionalliance.com/signup
Follow us on Twitter at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
In solidarity,
Missouri Action Alliance
