ACT NOW: Physicians Mobilizing with National Campaign to Defend Medicaid

As federal lawmakers weigh deep cuts to Medicaid, the Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) is joining a nationwide mobilization effort aimed at protecting access to care for millions of vulnerable Americans.

In partnership with the California Medical Association (CMA) and the Protect Our Health Care Coalition—and with support from Kaiser Permanente—LACMA is urging physicians to take part in a national voter-to-voter texting campaign. The effort targets key congressional districts where constituent outreach could help sway decisions on the future of Medicaid funding.

To join, volunteers can create an account at protectourhealthcare.org/join. Upon registration, participants will receive a welcome email from RumbleUp, the platform facilitating the outreach, along with a project password and instructions to begin texting.

The campaign comes as proposed reductions to Medicaid threaten to impact a broad swath of the population, including children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and patients who depend on safety-net hospitals and community clinics.

“This is a critical moment for organized medicine,” said Gustavo Friederichsen, CEO of LACMA. “Texting may seem like a small action, but it’s one of the most effective tools we have to directly connect voters with their representatives—and protect access to essential care.”

A Direct Line to Action

Participants in the campaign will use a secure platform to send pre-written text messages encouraging voters to contact their members of Congress. Personal phone numbers are not shared, and the process is designed to be fast, secure, and impactful.

While messages are pre-formatted and easy to send with a single tap, they must be deployed manually—automated outreach is not permitted under the campaign guidelines.

To join, volunteers can create an account at protectourhealthcare.org/join. Upon registration, participants will receive a welcome email from RumbleUp, the platform facilitating the outreach, along with a project password and instructions to begin texting.

A short instructional video and detailed guide are also available:

• Intro Video

• Texting Program Guide

Urgent Need for Advocacy

More than 79 million Americans currently rely on Medicaid, making it the largest health insurance program in the nation. Any reduction in funding could have serious consequences, particularly for California’s most underserved populations.

LACMA officials emphasized that physician engagement remains a cornerstone of advocacy efforts during this time of uncertainty.

“Physicians are uniquely positioned to understand how these cuts would affect patient care on the ground,” Friederichsen added. “That’s why their voices—and actions—are so important right now.”

Volunteers with questions or technical issues are encouraged to contact the campaign coordinators directly at info@protectourhealthcare.org.