Since 1982, Families USA has worked to promote high-quality,
affordable health care for all Americans.

Health reform is nearing the finish line as Congress prepares to take an up-or-down vote this week. If you want to help make history, check out our Health Reform Watch page, where you'll find tips and tools that will help you make the case for reform to your elected officials and others.

For background information on health reform, click here.

Missed our Health Action 2010 Conference? Check out Health Action 2010 Conference Central for the advocates of the year video, photos, webcasts, workshop handouts, and more.

New Resources from Families USA

Hundreds of National Organizations Say "Yes" to Health Reform In a national two-page ad appearing today, hundreds of national organizations representing seniors, unions, faith groups, communities of color, and many other constituencies urged Congress to Vote "Yes" on health reform—because the cost of doing nothing is much too high. (March 2010)

Health Coverage in the States: How Will Health Reform Help? discusses the major gaps in each state's health coverage system and how health reform will address these gaps and help state residents, including the insured, the uninsured, people in Medicare, and small businesses. (March 2010)

Expanding Coverage for Recent Immigrants: CHIPRA Gives States New Options examines the provision that lifts the "five year bar" for legally residing immigrant children and pregnant women. It discusses how states can take advantage of this new option to expand coverage—and why they should. (March 2010)

Building Blocks of Health Reform: The Social Security Example discusses how the Social Security program started out modestly but grew over time, as well as its importance to minority seniors. (March 2010)

Lives on the Line: The Deadly Consequences of Delaying Health Reform examines what would happen if Congress fails to pass health reform. Specifically, it provides national and state-level estimates of the number of deaths that would occur due to lack of health coverage if reform doesn't pass. It also quantifies how many Americans died due to lack of health coverage since the last effort to pass reform in 1994. (March 2010)

Rate Review: Holding Health Plans Accountable for Your Premium Dollars discusses common problems with the process of reviewing health insurance premium rates, the lessons learned from state rate review procedures, and how health reform will address these problems. (March 2010)

The Dangers of Defeat: The Cost of Failure to Pass Health Reform analyzes the many consequences for America's families and businesses if health reform is--or is not--enacted. It examines what will happen to health insurance premiums, out-of-pocket health care costs, and businesses struggling to provide coverage to workers. (March 2010)

States in Need: Congress Should Extend Temporary Increase in Medicaid Funding examines why states continue to need this federal help. It includes state-specific data on the federal Medicaid support in the President's budget and on the many positive economic impacts of extending this fiscal relief. (February 2010)

Improving Language Access: CHIPRA Provides Increased Funding for Language Services discusses the increased funding for language assistance services (interpretation and translation) and how states cover these services for Medicaid and CHIP enrollees who are limited English proficient, or LEP. (February 2010)

Making the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) Work: How States Can Help People with Medicare examines how this legislation improves the Medicare Savings Programs and the Part D Low-Income Subsidy, making Medicare more affordable for low-income beneficiaries. It includes tips for advocates. (February 2010)

What does health insurance reform mean for you? This new ad answers the questions that many consumers have about how health reform will affect them.

Click here to watch.

More Resources

Health Provisions in the Stimulus Package: Click here for details and to see what's good and not-so-good about the new law.

Conference Call Series for State Advocates: Listen to the calls from the 2010 series.

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