Families USA

Technology entrepreneur Philippe Villers and his wife Kate{{cite news |last1=Borchers |first1=Callum |date=16 April 2012 |title=Millionaires from Mass. join call to raise their tax rates |work=Boston.com |url=http://archive.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/04/16/millionaires_from_mass_join_call_to_raise_their_tax_rates/?page=2 |access-date=3 December 2021}} co-founded Families USA in 1981.{{cite news |last1=Fairhall |first1=John |date=16 October 1993 |title=Gnat of a Reform Group Packs Big Bite |work=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1993-10-16-1993289007-story.html |access-date=11 October 2021}} Families USA's advocacy in Washington, D.C., has influenced health care legislation and policy, including the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,{{cite news |last1=Frieden |first1=Joyce |title=Biden Announces Deal With Congress on Infrastructure Bill |url=https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/reform/95309 |access-date=17 November 2021 |work=MedPage Today |date=28 October 2021 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028221916/https://www.medpagetoday.com/washington-watch/reform/95309 |archive-date=28 October 2021}} federal and state legislation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{cite news |last1=Heath |first1=Sara |title=Health Equity, PCP Strategies for Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout |url=https://patientengagementhit.com/news/health-equity-pcp-strategies-for-pediatric-covid-19-vaccine-rollout |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=PatientEngagementHIT |date=3 November 2021}} the Affordable Care Act (ACA),{{Cite web|title = Health care reform up in air as economy sinks - USATODAY.com|url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-12-18-health_N.htm|website = usatoday30.usatoday.com|accessdate = 2016-01-07}}{{Cite web|title = Prognosis Unclear|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/prognosis-unclear_n_1765439.html|website = HuffPost| date=10 August 2012 |accessdate = 2016-01-07}} defending against efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act,{{cite news |last1=Alonso-Zaldivar |first1=Ricardo |title='Protect Our Care' group plans to push back against repeal of health law |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/protect-care-group-plans-push-back-repeal-obama-health-law |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=PBS NewsHour |agency=Associated Press |date=9 December 2016 |language=en-us}} and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).{{Cite web|title = Pelosi tries to stamp out abortion fight on Medicare fix|url = http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/nancy-pelosi-abortion-fight-medicare-fix-116272#ixzz3l9ymdYPM|website =Politico| date=20 March 2015 |accessdate = 2016-01-07}}

In 2014, National Journal named Pollack one of the top 25 players in Congress, the Administration, and the lobbying community on Medicare prescription drug benefits.{{Cite web |date=4 February 2014 |title=Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA |url=http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/voices/events/pollack/ |accessdate=2016-01-07 |website=Voices in Leadership |language=en-US}}

President Barack Obama credited Families USA with playing an instrumental role in promoting the enactment of the ACA and for the organization’s work in helping to implement and protect the historic health legislation.{{Citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhivICxNd7w|accessdate=2016-01-07|title=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223043634/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhivICxNd7w|archive-date=2018-12-23|url-status=dead}} On a printed copy of the ACA displayed in Families USA’s office, Obama wrote, “To Ron and Families USA – You made this happen!”{{Cite web|title = Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet|url = http://imgur.com/8NW1IOZ|website = Imgur|accessdate = 2016-01-07}}

In 2017, Frederick Isasi was appointed Executive Director of Families USA.{{cite web |last=Castellucci |first=Maria |date=5 January 2017 |title=Families USA names Frederick Isasi executive director |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20170105/NEWS/170109959/families-usa-names-frederick-isasi-executive-director |website=Modern Healthcare}}{{cite web |date=5 January 2017 |title=Families USA names Frederick Isasi executive director |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20170105/NEWS/170109959/families-usa-names-frederick-isasi-executive-director |website=Modern Healthcare}} He took over the executive director role from Ron Pollack, the organization's founding executive director{{cite news |date=12 April 2012 |title=Families USA founder Pollack stepping down after 33 years |language=en |work=Modern Healthcare |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160507/MAGAZINE/305079972/families-usa-founder-pollack-stepping-down-after-33-years |access-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203055627/https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160507/MAGAZINE/305079972/families-usa-founder-pollack-stepping-down-after-33-years |archive-date=3 December 2021}} and leader for almost 35 years.{{cite news |last1=Evans |first1=Garrett |date=6 November 2018 |title=Liberal health advocate looks to move beyond defense on ObamaCare |language=en |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/415074-moving-beyond-defense-on-obamacare/ |access-date=26 September 2021}} Isasi has testified before Congress on issues including health care costs, payment and delivery reform,{{cite news |last1=Bluth |first1=Rachel |title=Congressional Panel: Consumers Shouldn't Have To Solve Surprise Medical Bill Problem |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/02/709201186/congressional-panel-consumers-shouldnt-have-to-solve-surprise-medical-bill-probl |access-date=6 October 2021 |work=NPR |date=2 April 2019 |language=en}} and healthcare coverage.{{cite news |last1=Lotven |first1=Amy |title=Senate Finance Plans Hearing On Federal Health Insurance Programs {{!}} InsideHealthPolicy.com |url=https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/senate-finance-plans-hearing-federal-health-insurance-programs |access-date=18 November 2021 |work=Inside Health Policy |date=15 October 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Isasi |first1=Frederick |title=Health Insurance Coverage in America: Current and Future Role of Federal Programs |url=https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2021-10-18-FINAL%20F.%20Isasi%20Hearing%20Testimony1.pdf |website=U.S. Senate Finance Committee |access-date=3 December 2021}}

On November 23, 2016, Vanity Fair reported that shortly after Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election, Families USA held a conference call with organizations from around the country to discuss efforts to prevent the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and formed the Protect Our Care coalition.{{cite web |last=Tracy |first=Abigail |date=23 November 2016 |title=Why Obamacare Could Be Donald Trump's Undoing |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/11/donald-trump-barack-obama-affordable-care-act |website=Vanity Fair}}

Ron Pollack, also a co-founder, became executive director of the organization,{{cite news |last1=McGinley |first1=Laurie |date=3 May 2016 |title=Leader of Families USA, pivotal in passing Affordable Care Act, will step down |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/leader-of-families-usa-pivotal-in-passing-affordable-care-act-will-step-down/2016/05/03/4d22bc5a-1135-11e6-8967-7ac733c56f12_story.html |access-date=2 July 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} a role he filled until 2017.{{cite news |last1=Sandler |first1=Michael |date=4 May 2016 |title=Ron Pollack to step down from Families USA |url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160504/NEWS/160509955/ron-pollack-to-step-down-from-families-usa |access-date=2 July 2023 |work=Modern Healthcare |language=en}}

The Hill named Pollack one of the nine top nonprofit lobbyists in 2010.{{Cite web |last=Ruyle |first=Megan |date=17 June 2010 |title=2010 Top Lobbyists |url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/163718-2010-top-lobbyists/ |access-date=2016-01-07 |website=The Hill}}

The New York Times has described Families USA as a "nonpartisan consumer advocacy group" and{{cite news |last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |title=Millions Have Lost Health Insurance in Pandemic-Driven Recession |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/13/us/politics/coronavirus-health-insurance-trump.html |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=14 July 2020}} advocates for public policy{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Robert |title=Advocates turn to bolstering ACA, pressuring Medicaid expansion holdouts after SCOTUS win |url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/advocates-turn-to-bolstering-aca-and-pressure-medicaid-expansion-holdouts-after-scotus-win |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=FierceHealthcare |date=17 June 2021 |language=en}} and research.{{cite news |last1=Gaskill |first1=Hannah |title=CASA launches the care for all coalition to address the health insurance gap in Prince George's County |url=https://wtop.com/prince-georges-county/2021/06/casa-launches-the-care-for-all-coalition-to-address-the-health-insurance-gap-in-prince-georges-county/ |access-date=22 September 2021 |work=WTOP |date=24 June 2021 |language=en}} It has been involved in state-by-state campaigns to address the Medicaid coverage gap among low-income Americans, supporting legislative strategies{{cite news |title=Manchin's not keen on more Medicaid expansion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/26/manchin-not-keen-more-medicaid-expansion/ |access-date=18 November 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=26 October 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Diamond |first1=Dan |last2=Roubein |first2=Rachel |last3=Goldstein |first3=Amy |last4=Romm |first4=Tony |title=Additional Medicare, Medicaid benefits may be whittled or cut as Democrats woo moderates |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/10/26/biden-reconciliation-medicare-medicaid-congress/ |access-date=18 November 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=26 October 2021}} and producing analysis documenting the benefits of extending health coverage.{{Cite web|title = Childless adults biggest winners under Medicaid expansion|url = http://www.fiercehealthpayer.com/story/childless-adults-biggest-winners-under-medicaid-expansion/2015-01-23|website = FierceHealthPayer|accessdate = 2016-01-07}}

The organization has organized several structured dialogues on key healthcare issues among diverse stakeholder organization leaders, including those representing insurers, hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, businesses, labor, and consumers. One such dialogue led to the creation of the Campaign for Children’s Health Care, which successfully pushed to extend CHIP.{{Cite web|title = Campaign for Children's Health Care: About Us|url = http://www.childrenshealthcampaign.org/about/|website = www.childrenshealthcampaign.org|accessdate = 2016-01-07}} Another set of dialogues sought and achieved common ground on extending health coverage to the uninsured.{{Cite web|title = After Obamacare: The next Democratic health agenda|url = https://www.vox.com/2015/2/23/8082769/obamacare-democrats-priorities|website =Vox|date = 23 February 2015|accessdate = 2016-01-07}} A more recent dialogue developed proposals for promoting increased quality care at lower costs.

Families USA's organization includes the National Center for Coverage Innovation (NCCI){{cite news |last1=Thompson |first1=Dennis |title=Buying Your Own Health Insurance Just Got Way Less Expensive |url=https://consumer.healthday.com/4-6-buying-your-own-health-insurance-just-got-way-less-expensive-2651320047.html |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=HealthDay |date=6 April 2021 |language=en}} which advocates for measures to expand access to healthcare coverage.{{cite news |last1=Renfrow |first1=Jacqueline |title=Maryland legislators OK plan to use tax returns to help residents with insurance enrollment |url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/maryland-house-senate-pass-bill-to-put-health-enrollment-tax-returns |access-date=5 October 2021 |work=FierceHealthcare |date=21 March 2019 |language=en}}

• List of healthcare reform advocacy groups in the United States
• Physicians for a National Health Program

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.familiesusa.org/ Official website]
• [http://www.childrenshealthcampaign.org/?source=wikipedia Campaign for Children's Health Care]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Healthcare reform advocacy groups in the United States

Category:Medical and health organizations based in Washington, D.C.

Category:1989 establishments in the United States

Category:1989 establishments in Washington, D.C.

Category:Organizations established in 1981