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Letters to President Obama

From

Joan Newcomb

March 1, 2016

President Obama

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the Affordable Care Act. My son, a 22 year old heroin addict in recovery for one year, is alive today because of this change you fought for. I was able to keep him on my insurance despite him not attending college. During our battle of his disease of addiction over the past four years -- he was able to get into rehab over 10 times and his life was saved. He is now working 40-50 hours a week, renting an apartment with other young people in recovery, adding to the economy and paying taxes.

I will continue to express my support of this Act that had a huge personal impact on my family. I am frustrated by the continued attacks on its benefits. So many people want to end it--apparently they haven't faced a life and death situation. Heroin addiction is a real threat to our upcoming generations. It kills our children and weakens the whole family.

Your faithful supporter
Joan Newcomb

The President's Response

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

June 20, 2016

 

Ms. Joan Newcomb

 

Dear Joan:

Thank you for writing to share your son's story with me and to let me know how the Affordable Care Act has helped your family. I have been deeply moved by the stories of individuals and families like yours whose lives have been affected by the opioid epidemic.

It's clear how supportive your family has been of your son and I'm glad affordable health care helped him get the treatment he needs. I want to make sure everyone with an opioid use disorder has the same opportunity. That is why I have continued to call on Congress to provide the $1.1 billion to increase in funding in my budget to help ensure that Americans who want treatment can get it. This funding would expand access to treatment services and provide incentives for treatment providers to practice in the communities that need them most. These new investments would also build on the steps my Administration has taken to expand prevention programs, increase access to the overdoes-reversal drug naloxone, improve prescribing practices for pain medication, and support targeted enforcement activities. We will continue to use all of our available tools to combat this epidemic, but we need Congress to act now. We can't wait for more families or communities to needlessly suffer the tragedy of overdose when treatment could be provided if we provided the funding.

Millions of Americans like your son have been helped because they got the treatment and care they needed. Please know that I will keep fighting to ensure that Americans who want treatment can get it and start the road to recovery. I hope you will keep making your voice heard and sharing your story.

Again, thank you for writing. I will continue to keep your family in my thoughts.

 

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

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