1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

The State Based Universal Health Care Act (SBUHCA) creates a path allowing states to use federal funds to create universal healthcare programs. Maine even has a 'trigger law' that will implement a universal healthcare bill when SBUHCA passes Congress.  The State Based Universal Health Care Act would: • Create Federal funding streams and regulatory flexibility to support state-based universal health care programs like the Maine Health Care Act • Establish a waiver pathway for states or groups of states to pursue their own plans—so long as they cover at least 95% of their residents within five years. • Independent evaluation and oversightto ensure state plans meet coverage and benefit standards. • Access to federal technical assistance during development and implementation In the wake of the disastrous federal budget that threatens our rural hospitals and the healthcare of our most vulnerable, the enactment of SBUHCA (because of our ‘trigger law’) would allow Maine to get right to work in creating a healthcare program for Maine that would cover everyone and save our rural hospitals. Representative Chellie Pingree has co-sponsored SBUHCA every session that it has been introduced in Congress.   I am writing now to ask you to co-sponsor SBUHCA, and to work towards and vote for its passage.