Senate supplemental budget triggers concentrated call-to-action #4 to save the Basic Health Plan

The state Senate is expected to roll out its version of the supplemental budget today.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a 3:30 hearing on the plan, which will technically be an amendment to the plan passed by the House, ESHB 1086.

So, we'll wrap up our concentrated calls to action with the Basic Health Plan provided by Federation members in the state Health Care Authority.

CONCENTRATED CALL TO ACTION NO. 4: BASIC HEALTH PLAN

The Basic Health Plan provides health insurance to 54,000 Washingtonians who otherwise couldn't afford it. The governor and House want to eliminate it. But doing so harms the vulnerable. There may be a move in the Senate to save Basic Health by tightening eligibility and reducing the number of enrollees.

Majority Leader Lisa Brown calls this "Reform and reduce but preserve and protect." So progress may have been made.

CALL TO ACTION ON THE BASIC HEALTH PLAN

Call the Legislature's toll-free message center at 1-800-562-6000. Tell your legislators:

• Save the Basic Health Plan. It is a vital lifeline for thousands of our fellow citizens, including pregnant women and those with cancer, AIDS, diabetes, liver disease, post-traumatic stress syndrome and other serious illnesses.

• Saving Basic Health is right fiscally, morally and for the future.

• Saving Basic Health saves the jobs of the dedicated Health Care Authority employees who provide this service.

And don't forget our first three calls to action:

Call 1-800-562-6000 and: tell legislators to restore funding for DSHS Interpreter services in the supplemental budget (ESHB 1086) and the 2011-2013 biennial budget; tell them to stop the fast-track closure of Frances Haddon Morgan Center by June 30 and the closure of Yakima Valley School in December 2012; and stop the fast-track closure of Maple Lane School.