Because people I know are not able to afford health insurance and are penalized on their Federal taxes and they fall into the hole where they do not qualify for Medicaid. These are good, hard-working people who are at risk in case of illness.

I am the mother of a 14-year-old son who is nonverbal with autism. I cannot begin to tell you how important these services have been in helping my son progress towards being able to communicate with his family, friends, and community and manage his behaviors. We must speak on the behalf of these vulnerable children, and ensure they get the services they so greatly need. If these cuts are passed, more and more providers are going to close their doors and the burden will fall back on our public schools. These services are vital to ensuring these children get the help they need to gain skills that will help them become more independent by the time they reach adulthood. Without these services, what will become of them?

At the start of this year, Waterford Union High School elected to opt out of the state's lunch program requirements, which automatically meant that they would no longer receive state funding to help offset the cost of food. As a result, food options have been a lot more unhealthy and more expensive. Wait a minute, junk food for more money? What?!? A decent lunch with an entree and milk is now about $5 a lunch ($5*5days*4weeks=$100/month) when it used to be about $3.50 a lunch ($3.50*5days*4 weeks = $70/month). That is a rough 42.8℅ increase compared to what it was before. Also, the excess money accumulated is used to help profit the school and cover free and reduced lunches, which have now been reduced to a mere side salad, slice of pizza, or hamburger with a carton of milk. There is no longer a salad bar, which used to offer fruits and vegetables. Even though I will not go there next year, let's show Waterford that this isn't the desirable option for our wallets or for our children. Sign this petition!

Our children are the future.

Workers gave up a constitutional right to sue for damages 100 years ago in exchange for the payment of lost wages and medical bills related to work injuries. These promises are not being fulfilled. We also encourage you to email or write your State Representative directly about this issue. You can find their contact information here: https://democracy.io/#/

The petition is to get Beth Harwell to bring Insure Tennessee to the floor of the state house for a full vote of the legislators of Tennessee. According to a poll 67 % of Tennesseans want Insure Tennessee. 280,000folks are without insurance in our state. Friends and neighbors are affected by this issue.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus has affected between 440,000 and 1.3 million people in Brazil. Although transmission has not been documented in the United States, the virus has struck returning travelers. Local cases also have emerged in Puerto Rico and 36 other countries or U.S. territories. In light of recent outbreaks, the number of travelers visiting or returning to the United States with the Zika virus is likely to increase. Short-term strategies for controlling its spread include killing mosquitoes, cleaning up habitats where they breed, encouraging women to consider the advisability of becoming pregnant and restricting travel to countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. But options are slim for some of those who are most at risk. Women in countries with little to no reproductive rights are being told not to get pregnant for two years. In countries like El Salvador, fewer than 10 percent of the population uses birth control, which is hard to obtain and expensive. Abortion laws are so strict that women can be jailed for having a miscarriage. These same countries are placing a huge burden on women who have very little choice. This is a human rights issue and we must combat it. In the long term, we need an initiative for research, treatment and possible vaccine development. When Ebola broke out in the United States in 2014, it highlighted evidence of inadequate worker protections in a privatized health care system driven by profit. Funding to improve our health care infrastructure remains woefully inadequate, and budget cuts have weakened the ability of our universities and research institutions to develop vaccines and preventive measures. The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USAID have requested $1.9 billion in additional funding from Congress for education, research, development, and vector control efforts. Nevertheless, preparations for full protective measures and monitoring should begin immediately, including implementation of mechanical disinfection devices that help stop the spread of mosquitoes through aviation without utilizing harmful pesticides.

2015 Legislation authored by Sen. Fred Mills, SCR 19 passed a motion to make a single recommendation to the Louisiana Legislature that there is a CLEAR and obvious BENEFIT to removing the current restrictions tied to accessing a physical therapist's services by ALLOWING DIRECT PATIENT ACCESS TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST'S SERVICES WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. Unrestricted access to physical therapy treatment is safe, allows for patient self-referral, patient choice and is cost-effective for the patient and Louisiana. The citizens of Louisiana deserve the right to choose their provider and have easier access to physical therapy treatment.

As a physician and a human being, I am disgusted by governors refusing #MedicaidExpansion because the constituents affected are too poor and powerless to fight back.

To equalize health insurance premiums for all Coloradoans who rely on individual policies. Currently, rates vary as much as 50%, making health insurance unaffordable for many in higher cost areas.

On July 25th, the eyes of the nation will be on Philadelphia, a city with an HIV infection rate 3 times the national average. Activists from around the country will be demanding that the next president pledge an End to AIDS. They should make that announcement in a city and state that have pledged to do their part to end the AIDS epidemic. Prove that you believe Black lives matter, Trans* lives matter, Gay lives matter, Hispanic lives matter, Women's lives matter, and be strong leaders to end HIV infection.

DES was banned in 1971 but not before over 5 million people were exposed. This drug was used to prevent miscarriage or infertility. This question 'Were you exposed to DES' on patient intake forms should be asked as high blood pressure or diabetes is, It may save a life.