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We’re still on for tomorrow - we’ve just moved it to the Community Room in case of rain and the continued air quality issues!

Now partnering with the Highlands Health Clinic for free health screenings, and Grow it Forward Johnstown where you can get information and resources about growing your own food!

This is an all people-powered event with absolutely no corporate sponsorships. Organized by residents and community members in the region - member-led, staff-free! taken in Johnstown, Pennsylvania by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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8 days ago

“If I had full orthodontics coverage I wouldn’t be in constant pain.”

Houston from Milton, Pa shared his struggles with getting dental care despite having employee based health insurance.

Saturday, the Northeast PA Healthcare Rights Committee listened to and lifted up healthcare stories from community members at the Pridapalooza in Bloomsburg.

#medicaid4all #NonviolentMedicaidArmy #MedicaidMondays #weneedourteeth by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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5 days ago

Every third Wednesday of the month from 7-8 pm ET, Put People First! PA, a statewide, member-led, staff-free organization holds our Statewide Membership Call. This call is for active members, mobilizers, and anyone who is interested in finding out more about our Healthcare is a Human Right campaign and getting involved!

This month’s call will be about the crisis of hospital closures.

Many of our hospitals are on life support. They are falling prey to a system that puts profit over our lives. The primary purpose of a hospital should be providing preventative and life sustaining care to our communities, but instead, hospitals are being removed from our communities for not being profitable enough.

Learn about how Put People First! PA organizes people facing hospital closures to build permanently organized communities and join our fight to take back our hospitals.

This is an important part of our platform:

-Abolish Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (de-privatize Medicaid)
-Medicaid4All: no hoops, cuts or hurdles
-Re-open closed hospitals
-Implement a Public Healthcare Advocate for PA
-Support healthcare workers

As always, we’ll share our stories of struggle.

Join this call to find out more about what’s happening and how you can get involved!

Remember - we only get what we’re organized to take!

Click here to join: https://zoom.us/j/5483957623
Or to call in, Dial: 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Then enter Meeting ID: 548 395 7623 by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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12 days ago

“We’re all born and we all need healthcare. If one person is sick in a society, then no one is well.” Alice from Pittsburgh shares her story for this weeks #medicaidmondays . #healthcareisahumanright #nonviolentmedicaidarmy #medicaidforall #dentalcareisahumanright by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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12 days ago

Glenn from Philadelphia, PA shares the chronic pain he lives with since a fall on the job and why he believes healthcare is a human right. Glenn is a member of the Nonviolent Medicaid Army and leader with the National Union of the Homeless. #medicaidmondays #nonviolentmedicaidarmy #healthcareisahumanright by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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19 days ago

This past winter the Nonviolent Medicaid Army collectively undertook a study on the People’s History of the Revolutionary War Era.

Our study left us profoundly hopeful. Nothing about the birth of this nation was a foregone conclusion. The entire process was shaped by struggle and our working class, Indigenous and enslaved ancestors were not passive but active participants.

Here are six lessons that one of our leaders in Pennsylvania synthesized on the basis of our collective study.

Read the rest of the piece, as well as a 7th lesson here (link in IG bio):

https://unleashinghumanpossibilities.org/2026/06/21/bicentennial-baby-on-the-semiquincentennial/

For each lesson, a video, audio or written source text is offered for further investigation. by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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21 days ago

Todays #medicaidmondays comes from Alaina in Monroeville, Southwest Pennsylvania.

Alaina writes, “When I began my career as a dental hygienist over 15 years ago, I had hopes of helping to save the world’s teeth. In school, we were taught to take the systemic health of our patient into consideration. We were graded harshly on how well we could physically remove hardened biofilm that contributes to all sorts of oral and systemic diseases. Upon graduation I quickly learned that none of this mattered if the patient couldn’t afford it. Convincing people to believe periodontal disease is something they should be worried about is difficult when patients think if their insurance doesn’t cover it then it must not matter. I really feel for young adults who are launching their careers without ever having adequate dental care and education. My experience working for a private dentist on a college campus, and in a chain office with a mostly lower-income clientele have shaped my experience in treating my patients ethically. I know from experience how quickly a young person’s gums with neglected dental care can bounce back after a couple visits with a hygienist. I’ve also seen overprescribing of periodontal treatment from corporate dentistry in order to fulfill quotas and goals, which would not be a thing if patients had more options to seek care that is healing rather than exploitative.”
#weneedourteeth #healthcareisahumanright #nonviolentmedicaidarmy #sb860 by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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a month ago

Today's #medicaidmondays comes from PA's #CrowdTheCapitol on June 8th when dozen of directly impacted leaders, clergy, healthcare advocates, and anti-poverty organizers came together to push for the passage of HB 583 and SB 860, legislation that would restore critical Adult Dental Benefits to Medicaid after major cuts were made in 2011. Both bills are stalled in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Medicaid in PA does not cover crowns and caps, root canals, or gum treatments, without both prior authorization and a “Benefit Limit Exception” (BLE) a burdensome and restrictive process of application that results in further delays to necessary care.

BLEs are granted only when the situation is life-threatening. Additionally, only one set of full or partial dentures is covered per lifetime.

Since the benefit was cut in 2011, spending on emergency department visits for dental issues has increased by more than 60%, reaching more than $35 million annually.

The chant "We're Rural, We're Urban, We're Working Class, When We Get Organized, The System Won't Last" comes from Ben F. and is increasingly used across the Nonviolent Medicaid Army to demonstrate one of our key principles: change comes from below, not from above and we must unite across all lines of division including the urban/rural divide!

#weneedourteeth
#fightpovertynotthepoor
#UniteThePoor
#HealthcareIsAHumanRight
#MedicaidCutsEqualsDeath by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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a month ago

For this week’s #medicaidmondays Jennina from the Put People First! PA Central Appalachia Healthcare Rights Committee shares her healthcare story and why she joined #crowdthecapitol on June 8, 2026 to push for the passage of HB 583 and SB 860, legislation that would restore critical adult dental benefits to Medicaid after major cuts were made in 2011. #healthcareisahumanright #nonviolentmedicaidarmy by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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a month ago

by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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a month ago

Senate Bill 860 would restore dental coverage for medicaid recipients all across Pennsylvania and save an estimate of at least $40 million dollars caused by people having to ignore problems that get worse and seek treatment in places like emergency rooms and urgent care centers.

This measure passed the House with BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, and is now just waiting for the PA Senate to let it be put up for a vote.

Judy Ward is our state senator and has the opportunity as a member on the Health and Human Services Committee to approve this bill and get it to the floor of the Senate.

Help us to restore care and dignity for everyday Pennsylvanians by calling your senator (Especially if you live in Judy Ward's district) and demanding that she get Senate Bill 860 out of committee and onto the Senate Floor. by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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2 months ago

On Monday, June 8 over 60 residents from across Pennsylvania converged on Harrisburg to demand, “We need our teeth!”

Put People First! PA members were joined by clergy, PA Poor People’s Campaign sister organizations, March on Harrisburg, National Union of the Homeless and PA Action on Climate, as well as Unite Armstrong, the PA Coalition for Oral Health and Unite Here.

Participants called on legislators to push HB 583 and SB 860 forward, legislation that would restore critical adult dental benefits to Medicaid after major cuts were made in 2011.

Activities included legislative visits with Senators in the Health and Human Services Committee, as well as hand deliveries of hundreds of healthcare story cards to legislators and recording dozens of healthcare story videos, or #medicaidmondays.

The day also included a press conference in the East Wing Rotunda with half a dozen speakers from different counties sharing powerful testimony on why they joined the action at the Capitol. They were flanked by participants holding placards with dental horror stories and colorful banners. Watch the livestream on our linktree!

“Me myself has lost two molars in the rear on each side, same place because I could not afford the crown to go over top of my root canal,” Jonice Turner from Johnstown shared. “We are the people who put you guys into office. We use our power to give you the power to give us the benefits that we need to thrive and survive…We should have healthcare, housing and food to feed our children and our families. Pass Senate Bill 860!”

Link in bio to read Put People First! PA’s full Healthcare is a Human Right Platform and to take action to Restore the Adult Dental Benefit!

#CrowdTheCapitol #WeNeedOurTeeth #PassSB860 #healthcareisahumanright by @putpeoplefirst_pa

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2 months ago