Alert: Medicaid Media Outreach

Dear Partners:

Over the past several days, we have seen an increased focus on protecting Medicaid as leaders in Washington continue their deficit-reduction negotiations. This is due in large part to all of the great work you are doing to make sure that people know how important this program is to seniors, children, and people living with disabilities in your states. For example, this past Wednesday, more than 300 Medicaid advocates gathered on Capitol Hill with Senators Al Franken, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Claire McCaskill to tell Congress, "Medicaid Matters"! Their message was echoed by thousands of supporters from around the country who took to the phones and social networks to voice their support. Thank you for all you did to help make that happen.

We must keep the momentum going. Although Congress canceled their recess scheduled for next week, there is still a lot of work we can do in Members' home districts. As partners around the country work to mobilize around Medicaid, we know one of the best ways to reach the public, echo a common message nationally, and create a groundswell is to engage your state and local media.

We encourage you to use this time to place op-eds and letters to the editor, set up editorial board meetings, and hold earned-media events. These outreach efforts will help ensure that the media continues to tell the stories of consumers who have been helped by Medicaid and why this program must be protected for thousands of seniors, people with disabilities, and children throughout the country. We've pulled together some materials and examples to help you plan for your media outreach:

• Editorial Board Meetings: A Tip Sheet
• Representative Chris Murphy (CT)'s Don't Forget Medicaid op-ed in the Huffington Post
• The Center for Public Policy Priorities and Community Catalyst co-author an op-ed in Texas's Alpine Avalanche
• The Columbus Dispatch highlights two local mothers' trip to the White House to talk about how their family counts on Medicaid coverage
• Consumer advocate Sara Gagne-Holmes authors an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News about the harm that federal cuts to Medicaid would do to Maine's people and economy
• Massachusetts stakeholders attract media attention at rally opposing cuts to Medicaid and Medicare

Please let us know about the media coverage that runs in your state, as we will compile clips on our website, where you can see more like the great pieces listed above. Please email the links to Christine Lindberg at clindberg@communitycatalyst.org.

Thank you for your continued advocacy and for all your hard work to protect Medicaid.

The Community Catalyst Implementation Team