Acadia had an interesting diary “Why Heller Matters” up recently. In the comments section, the author mentioned the perilous state of many rural hospitals and it hit me upside the head that this was a perfect political strategy to employ at this time. Unfortunately, the diary rolled over and is no longer displayed, but the back and forth in the commenting section really helped to crystalize my thinking. I am re-publishing one of my comments as a new diary in an attempt to expose more people to what I think is an effective political message.
I sent the following to my Senator, as well as the Oregon chapter of Indivisible. Personally, I would love to see a citizen confront their Republican Senator with something like:
“Excuse me Senator but as you know, St.XXXX General Hospital in BBB county just recently closed down. We are now hearing that the elimination of Medicaid funds will mean the probable closure of Providence Hospital in CCC county as well as the Buck County Regional Hospital. Are you seriously telling us that this is a good thing? Are you telling the residents of DDD county that they just need to buck up and get comfortable with the idea that some of them will need to drive 200 miles in the event of a medical emergency?”
If you concur that this strategy might be productive, please feel free to retrofit the following as you see fit and resend to whomever…
In listening to the media, I have not heard a great deal about how Republican healthcare proposals will maim and destroy countless rural hospitals. I think that this is a potent hot-button issue which could prove effective in focusing political pressure on Republican lawmakers. A concerted effort to publicize this single fact should be front and center. It meets all the criteria for effective political messaging:
1) It is a singular issue, easy to understand, unencumbered by legalistic/bureaucratic terminology (e.g. try thinking of a good way to quickly explain “58 percent of an average QHP”!!)
2) It is a relatable, visceral issue. There is nothing ‘abstract’ about the prospect that a piece of legislation will close YOUR hospital.
3) An inordinate number of rural hospitals are in Red states.
4) There is no easy 'sleight of hand' which will provide political cover on this issue. Republicans will not be able to 'end-around' this issue with sham, symbolic programs. Their 'go to' modus operandi is to set up such things as, for example, an Opioid Crisis Fund Amendment. Such legislative maneuvers are frequently successful since the lawmaker can then claim to have addressed the problem without worrying about providing any kind of quantitative evidence of its effectiveness. This will NOT work with this issue. If Medicaid is cut, hospitals WILL fail and their constituents will be able to see it with their own eyes. End. Of. Story.
Please see this weblink to a relevant abstract on the issue, which provides the requisite, empirical background: https://hcmpllc.com/publications/data-shows-rural-hospitals-at-risk-without-special-attention-from-lawmakers/
Thanks for your time. And thanks to Senator Merkley for being at the vanguard of the Democratic opposition to the Republican assault on our democracy!