Polls continue to show that Trumpcare is growing even more deeply unpopular with the American people as the Senate continues to shut out the American people by working behind closed doors on their bill without disclosing which lobbyists are involved.
Senate Republicans are denying the American public to even see their bill as it is written despite arguments they made in 2009 and 2010about how the much more transparent Affordable Care Act process.
However, thanks to leaks alone, healthcare experts and organizations have managed to learn about some of the devastating impacts the Senate’s Trumpcare bill would have on the American people – especially because of it’s draconian cuts to Medicaid.
“It’s beyond time for Senate Republicans to own-up to the painful, unaffordable consequences that the Trumpcare bill they’re writing in secret would have on America’s families,” said American Bridge spokesperson Andrew Bates. “Healthcare experts and patient advocates from across the country are raising alarms about this bill, which would hit working Americans counting on the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion for treatment extremely hard. The public will hold any senator who supports this disaster accountable.”
OVERALL AFFORDABILITY AND QUALITY OF CARE
American Cancer Society Action Network President Chris Hansen, 6/13/2017: “Access to adequate, affordable health coverage is a key determinant in surviving cancer…We urge Senators to ensure that any proposed changes build on critical patient protections in current law and provide equal or better coverage than what is available today. ”
American Diabetes Association Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Advocacy LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH, 6/13/2017: “People with diabetes need ongoing care to manage their disease and avoid complications…The American Health Care Act would be devastating for millions of Americans. We are proud to join our partners in encouraging the Senate to reject its dangerous provisions and develop viable, long-term solutions that protect affordable access to quality care, especially for people with diabetes.”
American Medical Association President-elect David O. Barbe, MD, 6/13/2017: “Improving the health of our nation means increasing access to high-quality, affordable health insurance coverage, which is why the reduction of coverage in the American Health Care Act is of grave concern…We urge members of Congress to Protect Patients First and pursue a bipartisan approach to reforming our health care system. Patients continue to benefit from the gains in coverage and consumer protections achieved in recent years, and we oppose legislation that diminish these gains.”
MEDICAID CUTS
American Hospital Association President and CEO Rick Pollack, 6/17/2017: “We therefore ask that the Senate protect our patients, and find ways to maintain coverage for as many Americans as possible by rejecting the AHCA, including its elimination of Medicaid expansion, untenable cuts to the Medicaid program, dilution of consumer protections, and inadequate tax credits for individuals purchasing coverage on the exchanges.”
Associated Press, 6/20/2017: “Medicaid cutbacks would hit hard in states deeply affected by the addiction crisis and struggling to turn the corner, according to state data and concerned lawmakers in both parties.”
-
“According to data compiled by The Associated Press, Medicaid expansion accounted for 61 percent of total Medicaid spending on substance abuse treatment in Kentucky, 47 percent in West Virginia, 56 percent in Michigan, 59 percent in Maryland, and 31 percent in Rhode Island. In Ohio, the expansion accounted for 43 percent of Medicaid spending in 2016 on behavioral health, a category that includes mental health and substance abuse.”
Letter from 10 health plans to Senate leadership, 6/20/2017: “The undersigned Managed Care Organizations represent nearly 13.5 million of our fellow citizens in 23 states across the country who rely on Medicaid for their health and well-being….There are no hidden efficiencies that states can use to address gaps of this magnitude without harming beneficiaries or imposing undue burden to our health care system and all U.S. taxpayers. Reducing the federal government’s share of Medicaid in this manner is not meaningful reform to bend the cost curve. It is simply an enormous cost shift to the states.”
Signing insurance plans:
-
AmeriHealth Caritas
-
Blue Shield of California
-
CalOptima
-
CareSource
-
Gateway Health Plan
-
Healthfirst (NY)
-
Inland Empire Health Plan
-
LA Care Health Plan
-
Molina Healthcare, Inc.
-
UPMC for You, Inc.
Manatt Health Managing Director Jocelyn Guyer, 6/20/2017: “‘
CNN Money, 6/20/2017: “For instance, many states provide home health care aides to children with special needs, disabled adults and frail elderly folks under Medicaid. But these services aren’t mandated so they could be on the chopping block in cash-strapped states, said Andy Schneider, research professor at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute. ‘It will force some pretty uncomfortable decisions at the state level,’ said Schneider, who worked in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the Obama administration. ‘Every year, it’s just going to get tougher.’”
ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS AND PREEXISTING CONDITIONS
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 6/12/2017: “If states scale back EHBs, many insurers will offer plans with skimpier coverage and lower premiums to attract young and healthy people. As a result, individuals with significant medical conditions might not be able to find plans with the comprehensive coverage they need. And if they were able to find such plans, the plans would charge much higher premiums — because, by and large, only less healthy people would enroll in them.”
Center for American Progress, 6/20/2017: “Senate Republicans are doing everything in their power to keep their health care repeal bill secret. However, some details about the legislation have leaked, including a proposal that would allow states to waive federal requirements that insurers provide coverage that includes core health care services, known as essential health benefits (EHBs). Instead, states could allow insurers to exclude certain benefits from their coverage. In states where services such as maternity care or substance use disorder treatment were not required to be covered, individuals needing those benefits would have to pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars more.”
Published: Jun 21, 2017