October 8, 2024

Medicaid Covers US: Protecting Health Insurance that Helps Communities Thrive

This session was hosted on Thursday, June 18, 2020 and is the third session in ACU’s Policy & Practice Series.

Access to health insurance coverage, including Medicaid, is critical to the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases. Despite its importance, Medicaid is often misunderstood, stigmatized and difficult to access in the 14 states that have yet to expand their programs to cover more low-income adults. The lens through which Medicaid is viewed makes it challenging to foster productive conversations about the importance of the program, and how it helps communities, economies, families and health systems thrive. Using examples from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s Medicaid Covers US project, attendees will be taken through current information on the Medicaid program, recent federal and state policy proposals, insights from Medicaid messaging and policy research, the role of Medicaid in public health emergencies like COVID-19, and how to share stories about the importance of Medicaid in a way that resonates with policymakers and the public. Medicaid Covers US has provided a unique opportunity to engage patients, providers, community leaders and policymakers on the importance of Medicaid to individuals, communities and economies.

Presenters:

Katie Alexander, State and Local Outreach Manager – Medicaid, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

Citseko Staples Miller, Director, State and Local Campaigns – Access to Care, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.