It is estimated that 54,000 citizens of Nebraska are not getting the medical care they deserve because our state refuses to join the federally funded Medicaid Expansion program in the Affordable Care Act. The program is fully funded for the first three years and is funded at a minimum of 90% after that. Our current governor thinks we can't afford it, but clearly it is not a money issue when millions of dollars could infuse our economy and create new jobs while providing needed medical care at the earliest stages of a problem rather than crisis control in an emergency room. Withholding this coverage is fiscally irresponsible and morally corrupt. The opposition to this program “has placed the lives of hundreds of working Nebraskans at risk and jeopardized the health of thousands more” said the Nebraska Hospital Association. (Washington Post, March, 19, 2014) I’m not going to stand by and let my fellow Nebraskans die for lack of access to medical care when the program they need is ready and waiting to help if only the Unicameral and the governor had the will to act. A recent effort to move forward with a very common sense implementation failed to progress in the Unicameral by only 12 votes. Please help by signing this petition today. We must put pressure on those who are running for office this election cycle. We can’t let this type of narrow minded politics continue in our state.

When my daughter Sophie, who struggles with bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder turned 18, I lost the right to talk with her doctors and help her make treatment decisions. I chronicle my story in "Surrounded By Madness: A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets." Sophie spiraled out of control, is addicted to meth, and lives on the streets, when she's not in jail. Our mental health system is in shambles. H.R. 3717 would enable parents to help when their adult child is in crisis, treat patients in the least restrictive environment, and make assisted outpatient treatment programs an alternative to jails and prisons.

I was diagnosed with Myelofibrosis one year ago and have been receiving treatment at MDAnderson, where I am participating in a research study . This is a rare blood disorder and the only cure is a stem cell transplant. When I was denied insurance coverage by Medicare, I realized that they factor in your age, and "old people" are going to die anyway, so why allow treatment when this individual already lived their life. Sorry but I'm 66 years old, and I have a lot of life left in me. If I need the transplant, I want the transplant. I am doing my part participating in this research study and I should at least be given the option of a life saving treatment.

Most seniors living in nursing homes are usually in a fragile condition. Families are relying on those facilities to provide the best care for their loved ones as possible. In most of those facilities, there is not a RN on duty all of the time. Some only have a RN on duty during the day. These residents need specialized care but are left to rely on a Certified Nursing Assistant, who have limited training. If a CNA is going to be left to care for these patients, they need to have more critical care training, and be required to take a test to determine if that type of work is a good fit for them. There needs to be at least 1 RN, preferably 2, on duty in nursing homes and critical care facilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Because I want to get our freedom and food choices back

The right wing has spent millions of dollars spreading false information about the Affordable Care Act. Cory Gardner has made Obamacare scare tactics the central theme of his campaign. Their willingness to mislead voters for political gain on this critical issue has done a terrible disservice to the entire nation.

Seven of the top 10 most costly medicals conditions are controllable through lifestyle choices, with 1 in 3 Americans having heart disease, making it the most costly preventable medical condition (WebMD, 2013). Sadly, only the wealthy can afford to use ongoing services provided by exercise professionals. Congress should allow medical billing for access to health coaching because poor health literally destroys lives and costs jobs.

More women are on active duty in the military than ever before. 97 percent of servicewomen are of reproductive age, and they’re being deployed in regions where it’s a big challenge to get birth control, leaving many servicewomen without the care they deserve. It is time we as a country address this problem and make sure we improve access for the courageous women serving our country. A new bill in Congress would vastly improve access to contraception for women in the military. Introduced by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Harry Reid, and Patty Murray, it would ensure that all service members and their families would get full contraceptive coverage and counseling so they can pick the family planning option that’s right for them. Servicewomen are critical to our country’s safety, and they shouldn’t be denied health care that only women need. Take action now and tell your senators to stand up for women in the military and help pass this bill.

This petition is being started because once again the Greenville community in Jersey City has been left out of the loop. Sadly, many random acts of violence crime occur in Greenville and the nearest hospital is either In Bayonne or Downtown Jersey City. The residents of Ward A does not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens. We all need to work together to improve the quality of life in Greenville. Let's re-open this hospital for the community!

In the five years since AGenda Benda Justice, Inc. introduced art for this ribbon representing the urgency of healthcare awareness and access for lesbian, gay, transgender and other queer populations locally, nationally, and internationally, other LGBTQ civil rights matters have overshadowed healthcare as a priority. We ask your support for this symbol to become endorsed worldwide as one that unites us in the assertive pursuit for health care focusing on access to cancer screening, mental health care, and nutrition, and on strategies to reduce the rates and severity of addiction, STIs, homelessness, and domestic violence.

I have Vulvar Cancer. I was diagnosed in 2012, but did not know at the time that I still had medicaid and so declined treatment. I do not have medicaid now, and Medicare is unavailable to me until I reach 65 in January of 2015. I have found that the "Well-Woman" programs only provide financial assistance for women with breast cancer. It is my wish that ALL cancers affecting all female organs be included in the well-woman programs.

Many in Florida are suffering from the current tight restrictions on our pharmacies to limit the amount of pain medication they are allowed to dispense. They are just following the guidelines set by our state pharmacy board. Therefore we must take it to all levels of government by signing a petition and writing either by email or regular postage mail to our legislature. HERE IS OUR PETITION LETTER TO BE SENT TO FLORIDA LEGISLATURE AND STATE PHARMACY BOARD To: Florida Pharmacy Association, National Pharmacy Association, Members of Florida legislators, Florida Board of Pharmacy, the 27 Members of Congress who represent Florida, 40 state senators, and our two senators. We combined Florida residents are pleading for consideration to Stop Florida pharmacies from denying my pain medication. We are writing to urge pharmacies in Florida to ensure that their pharmacists fill legal and legitimate prescriptions for pain medicines and keep in stock a sufficient quantity of these medications. Floridians living with pain are having an increasingly difficult time obtaining their pain medication many of which have been prescribed for years. It has been noted that the elderly who must have their medication for true ability to walk, and have quality of life are actually moving back north so they may have quality of life. We have found ourselves driving from pharmacy to pharmacy spending whole days just to have a pharmacist state "we are out at this time". The current regulations are too strict in the ability to find a pharmacy that has the medication on hand. We are not allowed to phone pharmacies, nor can the major chain pharmacies make a courtesy call for us to another location to verify they may have quantity on hand. It’s not uncommon to hear about pharmacists giving false reasons for their unwillingness to fill prescriptions, even claiming that there is a national shortage of a medication. We are aware that the pharmacist is not to blame, as the regulations placed on pharmacies in the amount they may order is strict. Florida has had an issue with prescription pain medicine abuse, however don't lose sight that Florida has a large population of the elderly meaning our state has more than our share of people with chronic pain. It is unethical for pharmacists to turn their backs on these people, instead of helping them find relief from their pain. We are simply asking for fewer restrictions on the amount of pain medications a pharmacy may keep on supply. We understand the plight of the pharmacies, as they are under extreme regulations from the state board and DEA. Is it that the true individuals who have resided in our state for years to be punished because of the states fault of allowing the problem to escalate by the uncontrolled pill mill clinics to open while ignoring the problem until too late? Now punishing our chronic pain residents. Now, after the state cleaned up the pill mill problem, We assure you it is almost impossible to obtain new prescriptions for pain medication in the state, why punish the real in need public. We ask you kindly remove the strict regulations on the pharmacies so we may live without pain and depression. Thank You