Millions of Americans with diabetes rely on Medicaid and Medicare for their vital health care needs. Congress is considering proposals to reduce the nation's deficit. Any policies under consideration that would result in massive cuts to Medicaid and Medicare or restructuring of these programs could severely limit a person's ability to successfully manage their diabetes or prevent its costly complications.
Please urge your members of Congress not to slash or restructure Medicaid and Medicare as they attempt to reduce the deficit.
Dear [Decision Maker],
As a constituent who values and supports the access to health care that millions of people with diabetes receive through the Medicaid and Medicare programs, I stand with the American Diabetes Association in urging you to support a fair approach to deficit reduction that protects these important programs.
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Your comments will be added here]
Millions of people with diabetes - including children, pregnant women, low-income parents, seniors and people with severe complications from diabetes - rely on Medicaid and Medicare for their vital health care needs. These programs provide an essential avenue for people with diabetes to access the health care services and medications that enable them to manage their diabetes and reduce their risk for severe and costly complications such as heart and kidney disease, blindness and amputation.
While I recognize the difficult financial situation faced by our country, the diabetes epidemic is increasing and access to health coverage is more important than ever in order to promote successful disease management. Congress must not balance the nation's budget on the backs of the most vulnerable Americans.
I urge you to support cost-cutting proposals that focus on improving care coordination and reducing the incidence of diabetes and other chronic diseases. Draconian cuts to Medicaid and Medicare or cost-shifting to patients will not address the pressing issues that confront our health care system, including the need to improve quality of care and reduce the growth in health care spending.
Thank you for your consideration.
