One of the questions we hear most often is:“What can I do right now?”
This week, we have one simple answer. Share your story.
The Family Caregiver Advocacy Center has launched a national campaign encouraging family caregivers to contact Congress and share their experiences caring for loved ones.
The campaign emphasizes that family caregivers are an essential part of our nation’s long-term care system and that policymakers need to hear directly from the people living this reality every day.
The Family Caregiver Advocacy Center has created a public comment campaign regarding the CMS Interim Final Rule.
If you wish to participate in the federal rule-making process, you can learn more and submit comments here: Family Caregiver Advocacy Campaign
If you’ve been following Fair Care Idaho over the past year, you already know this isn’t just a national conversation.
Idaho families have lived through the elimination of Family Personal Care Services (FPCS), caregiver workforce shortages, managed care discussions, and ongoing concerns about access to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS).
Every story shared helps policymakers better understand what caregiving actually looks like; not in a report or a budget spreadsheet, but in kitchens, living rooms, doctor’s offices, and communities across Idaho.
Stories don’t replace data. They give the data a face.
Over the coming weeks, Fair Care Idaho will continue reaching out to candidates running for federal, statewide, and legislative office.
We’re asking them where they stand on disability rights, Medicaid, HCBS, caregiver workforce issues, and access to care because we believe voters deserve those answers before Election Day.
The conversations and elections happening now will shape the policies of tomorrow. That’s why this project matters.
If you’re trying to make sense of the many changes happening around Medicaid, we also wanted to share an upcoming public policy briefing hosted by KFF and States Newsroom, featuring healthcare policy experts and journalists, including Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel.
It’s happening July 23, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. MT.
The discussion will cover recent federal Medicaid changes, funding reductions, work requirements, and what those changes could mean for states, healthcare providers, and families in the months ahead. It will also include an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.
As we’ve said many times over the past year, staying informed is one of the most important things we can do. Understanding what’s happening at the national level helps us better prepare for how those decisions may affect Idaho families and the disability community.
As county fairs, parades, town halls, and community events begin popping up across Idaho, you’ll likely have more opportunities to meet candidates in person.
If you do, introduce yourself. Ask the questions that matter most to your family. Share your story.
Personal conversations often leave a lasting impression, and they help candidates better understand the real-world impact of the decisions they’ll be asked to make if elected.
The strongest advocacy doesn’t happen only during the legislative session.
It happens when families stay informed.
When communities ask thoughtful questions.
When caregivers tell their stories.
And when voters take the time to understand where the people seeking their vote stand on the issues that affect their lives.
If you find this information helpful, please subscribe to the Fair Care Idaho Substack and share it with others who care about disability rights, caregiving, Medicaid, and HCBS.
The more informed our communities are, the stronger our voices become.
Remember, we’re in this together, and together, we are making a difference.
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