More Hospitals Weigh In: After Bill Changes, TrumpCare Still Harmful to Millions of Americans

"House Republicans are putting the health of millions of Americans at greater risk with each change they make to placate party holdouts and pass the American Health Care Act. 

Their latest concession – eliminating commonsense requirements that private plans provide a minimum package of essential benefits – would make this damaging bill even worse. It could leave countless people with too little coverage to meet their health care needs and drive higher rates of uncompensated care at hospitals already struggling to cover their costs."

Children's Hospital Association:

"While lawmakers have altered the bill since its introduction, it continues to fail over 30 million kids, including over a million disabled children, who receive their health coverage through Medicaid.

The legislation the House is scheduled to consider is a national threat to children's health care, cutting funding, coverage and benefits for kids, many of whom have significant health care needs…A block grant would also eliminate cost-sharing protections for children, essentially creating new barriers to care for low-income, working families.

The bill would cut state health care budgets by more than $880 billion over 10 years by giving states the option of converting Medicaid to a block grant or per capita cap system. Children, who represent over 40 percent of all enrollees yet account for just 20 percent of Medicaid costs, could see their health care cut by tens of billions of dollars over that period. Limiting future funding for states will only erode children's coverage, benefits and access to care in Medicaid.

Congress should be looking after the health of America's children. Medicaid should be maintained as an entitlement and children should receive their core benefits. Medicaid and improved child health have been proven to carry lifelong benefits into adulthood, and providing Medicaid coverage for children is a smart investment for the nation."