Anne Arundel County residents suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizures, autoimmune diseases, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other debilitating health conditions should not have to suffer in the darkness. They should not have to travel long distances to procure a medicine that their doctor has deemed effective and beneficial. Anne Arundel County residents should be afforded the right to local access to medicinal marijuana which can improve their way of life. Please sign the petition and tell County Executive Steve Schuh and the other members of the Anne Arundel County Council to be proactive in safely and effectively structuring the County’s medicinal cannabis program.

As a student studying Social Work, I have recently been made aware of the problems that Optum has created within the mental health field. I have witnessed first hand the additional "hoops" individuals, most often children, who qualify for Medicaid now have to jump through in order to receive mental health care, and many times services needed are denied. Along with not providing services to vulnerable populations in need, Optum is not reimbursing providers properly, which could lead to the deterioration of mental health care in Idaho. In order to help those in need and protect mental health care providers, Idaho must not sign another contract with Optum.

The nation’s doctor has issued a rare Call to Action calling on cities and states across the country to invest in ways to make walking and biking safer, more attractive, and easier to use. Less than half of Americans get enough daily physical activity to help ward off chronic health problems like obesity and cancer, but more “active transportation” options can be part of the solution. By issuing this challenge to cities and states, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recognizes that not only is this something more people want, but it’s also something we need. Thank the Surgeon General for his leadership on keeping America healthy.

I am a nurse who works in an allergy clinic. We see thousands of patients in our clinic who are diagnosed with allergies: Food allergies, environmental allergies, medication allergies. We also have patients who are allergic to certain preservatives. These life threatening allergies require the patients to carry epinephrine injectors on them at all times. But, I have seen and personally talked to patients who just can't afford the $300-400 injectors. Making these more affordable for patients, both with and without insurance across the board, would help save lives. This should be a top priority, as people can die from their life-threatening allergies if they just can't afford the life saving medication.

Proposals to force unlimited vaccines on the population without exemption are based on the flawed, unproven and medically impossible belief that vaccinating protects others, and that not vaccinating endangers others. Vaccines are, according the US Supreme Court, "unavoidably unsafe". They have questionable benefits, and very real and documented dangers and risks, which many educated parents feel outweigh the claimed benefits. Parents, not the State, know what is best for their children. Ethical medical practice requires the informed consent of the individual to choose any medical treatment. Forced vaccination also destroys religious freedom, one of the highest values in American culture. Healthcare freedom of choice must be preserved.

Planned Parenthood (PP) has NEVER sold fetal tissue. The tapes were produced by folks who have created similar propaganda on many issues. Only 3% of PP activity is abortion related and NONE (by law) is paid for by government funding. The funding you do provide is for basic health care, pregnancy and STD testing, reproductive education (young adults need facts, not platitudes) and services (birth control prevents abortions). Please vote NO on any bill limiting funding for Planned Parenthood. Thank you.

Cutting back on funding on women's health care services is not right nor fair. We need to take in consideration the reality that when women come to these clinics for help and they are turned away, they have nowhere else to go.

Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care for women and men. Not one cent of federal funds go toward abortions (Hyde Amendment), which represent about 3% of total services provided.

Republican leaders are threatening to shut down the entire federal government for the second time in three years unless Congress cuts funding for Planned Parenthood. This is unacceptable! Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for millions of women, providing contraception, cancer screenings and basic preventive health care to women across our state and country.

I volunteer for Planned Parenthood, so I know that the videos behind the defunding plans are slanted. Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania doesn't participate in fetal tissue donation, so their funds should not be at risk. Defunding Planned Parenthood would put countless Pennsylvania women's' lives at risk.

Once again, Florida enrolled more previously-uninsured people through the “Obamacare” federal health insurance exchange than any other state during this year’s enrollment period. In all, over 1.6 million Floridians now have quality health insurance thanks to Obamacare, and it’s making a real difference in the lives of those who went years without seeing a doctor. All Floridians should have access to health coverage, and it’s a shame that our governor and his Republican friends in the Legislature continue to block Medicaid expansion in our state. They are literally putting politics ahead of the health and well-being of Florida families. I’ve been leading the fight to expand Medicaid in Florida, and I hope you’ll join me. Sign the Petition: Tell the Legislature and Governor Scott to accept Medicaid expansion in Florida!

Antibiotic resistance is a growing health crisis - the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 2 million Americans get sick each year from drug-resistant bacteria, and nearly 23,000 people die. A major culprit in this crisis is the misuse of antibiotics on factory farms, where 80% of antibiotics in the U.S. are fed to (often healthy) animals. The solution? End this dangerous practice. But instead of protecting our health, the California Assembly is considering a bill that will create loopholes to benefit factory farms and continue the misuse of antibiotics on factory farms.