Doctors, Hospitals, Patient Groups, Seniors’ Groups, and Many Others Are Opposing the Senate Trumpcare Bill
"There has never been a rollback of basic services to Americans like this ever in U.S. history. Let's not mince words. This bill will close hospitals. It will hammer rural hospitals; it will close nursing homes. It will lead to disabled children not getting services. … People will die."
Bruce Siegal, President, Essential Hospitals
Response to the Senate version of Trumpcare has been swift and harsh. Physicians, hospitals, seniors' groups, patient groups, women's health groups, consumer groups, faith leaders, and others have come out against the Senate Trumpcare bill.
DOCTORS/OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
American Medical Association: "The AMA Strongly Opposes the Senate's Health Reform Proposal." "On behalf of the physician and medical student members of the American Medical Association (AMA), I am writing to express our opposition to the discussion draft of the ‘Better Care Reconciliation Act" released on June 22, 2017. Medicine has long operated under the precept of Primum non nocere, or ‘first, do no harm.' The draft legislation violates that standard on many levels. … Though we await additional anaylsis of the proposal, it seems highly likely that a combination of smaller subsidies resulting from lower benchmarks and the increased likelihood of waivers of important protections such as required benefits, actuarial value standards, and out-of-pocket spending limits will expose low and middle income patients to higher costs and greater difficulty in affording care. The AMA is particularly concerned with proposals to convert the Medicaid program into a system that limits the federal obligation to care for needy patients to a predetermined formula based on per-capita-caps. …We sincerely hope that the Senate will take this opportunity to change the course of the current debate and work to fix problems with the current system. We believe that the Congress should be working to increase the number of Americans with access to quality, affordable health insurance instead of pursuing policies that have the opposite effect, and we renew our commitment to work with you in that endeavor." [AMA, 6/22/17]
American Academy Of Family Physicians: "This Legislation Would Have A Profoundly Negative Impact On Americans." "The Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 reflects many of the same flawed concepts that are in the American Health Care Act. In many ways, it poses a graver threat to millions of Americans, particularly children, people with disabilities and older Americans...The bill would phase out the Medicaid expansion and cap the federal commitment…. The possible damage goes deeper… States choosing to opt out would no longer be required to adhere to essential benefits such as prescription coverage, ambulance services or maternity care. Allowing annual and lifetime caps on benefits diminishes the value of every policy sold in the future. … This legislation would have a profoundly negative impact on Americans. The AAFP urges the Senate to reject this path and this policy. .. we cannot and will not support a bill that will cause harm to millions of patients." [AAFP, 6/22/17]
American Academy Of Pediatrics: "The US Senate's Health Care Legislation, At Last Unveiled Today, Fails To Meet Children's Needs." "The U.S. Senate's health care legislation, at last unveiled today, fails to meet children's needs...There is too much at stake for those of us who care for children to be silent. Pediatricians will continue to speak out for what children need until we see legislation that reflects it." [AAP, 6/22/17]
American Psychiatric Association: "The Senate Proposal, Like The House-Passed American Health Care Act, Falls Short Of Providing Needed Mental Health Care Benefits And Protections To Those Most Vulnerable." "The American Psychiatric Association urges the Senate to reject the troubling and harmful health care reform proposal released today by Senate Republicans. The Senate proposal, like the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA), falls short of providing needed mental health care benefits and protections to those most vulnerable." [APA, 6/22/17]
American Psychological Association: "This So-Called Better Care Reconciliation Act Is Actually Worse Than The Bill Passed By The House." "This so-called Better Care Reconciliation Act is actually worse than the bill passed by the House, because it would undermine Medicaid even more severely, if a little more slowly. This is extremely disappointing. Medicaid is a critical backstop of coverage for mental health treatment, and for millions of older Americans, children and individuals with disabilities. If the goal is to cover more people, why slash Medicaid when it is already much more cost-effective than private sector plans?" [APA, 6/22/17]
AIDS United, The AIDS Institute, NMAC, NASTAD, NCSD: "Senate Health Care Bill Is Disastrous for the HIV and STD Community." The Senate health care bill will be catastrophic for our nation's health care system. If passed, not only will people living with or at risk of HIV and STDs suffer, but our efforts to end the HIV and STD epidemics will be impeded. … The changes to Medicaid, including the repeal of the expansion and the drastic cuts to funding beginning in 2020 will harm people living with and at risk for HIV and STDs. This proposal guarantees limited access to care and benefits." [NASTAD, 6/23/17]
HOSPITALS
American Hospital Association: "We Urge The Senate To Go Back To The Drawing Board And Develop Legislation That Continues To Provide Coverage To All Americans Who Currently Have It." "From the onset of this debate, America's hospitals and health systems have been guided by a set of key principles that would protect coverage for Americans. Unfortunately, the draft bill under discussion in the Senate moves in the opposite direction, particularly for our most vulnerable patients. The Senate proposal would likely trigger deep cuts to the Medicaid program that covers millions of Americans with chronic conditions such as cancer, along with the elderly and individuals with disabilities who need long-term services and support. Medicaid cuts of this magnitude are unsustainable and will increase costs to individuals with private insurance. We urge the Senate to go back to the drawing board and develop legislation that continues to provide coverage to all Americans who currently have it." [AHA, 6/22/17]
Federation Of American Hospitals: "Now Is The Time For The Senate To Hit Reset And Make Key Improvements To This Legislation." "FAH has been explicit about our health reform core principles: maintain coverage levels, reasonable Medicaid structural reforms, sustain affordable, high quality individual coverage, protect employer-sponsored insurance and roll back untenable cuts to hospital reimbursement. At this time, the BCRA draft does not sufficiently meet those principles which are so important to those Americans our community hospitals serve and our employees who care for those patients every day. Now is the time for the Senate to hit reset and make key improvements to this legislation." [FAH, 6/22/17]
Children's Hospital Association: "Children's Hospitals Are Unified In Calling On The Senate To Reject The Bill." "Today, the U.S. Senate released the ‘Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017' as part of the ongoing congressional effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and reform Medicaid more broadly. Children's hospitals are unified in calling on the Senate to reject the bill. At its core, the bill is a major step backward for children and their health." [CHA, 6/22/17]
Catholic Health Association: "Just Like The House Passed American Health Care Act, The Senate Proposal Will Have A Devastating Impact On Our Nation's Most Vulnerable Populations." "CHA is strongly opposed to the Senate Better Care Reconciliation Act. Just like the House passed American Health Care Act, the Senate proposal will have a devastating impact on our nation's most vulnerable populations. After weeks of working behind closed doors, and despite claims that the Senate would start over and develop its own legislation, there is very little that differs from the House bill. The small tweaks made in the newly released Senate bill do not change the fact that millions will lose their health care especially through a complete restructuring and deep federal funding reduction to the Medicaid program." [CHA, 6/22/17]
America's Essential Hospitals: "This Bill Might Even Accelerate Decisions By Some [Hospitals] To Reduce Services Or Close Their Doors.""Senate leaders today have put ideology ahead of lives with a plan that puts health and home at risk for millions of working Americans and that would badly weaken essential services for everyone in communities across the country. Today's Senate bill makes few material improvements to the deeply damaging House legislation, and might be worse overall. For the hospitals that protect millions of Americans and their communities — our essential hospitals — this bill might even accelerate decisions by some to reduce services or close their doors." [AEH, 6/22/17]
SENIORS' GROUPS
AARP: "AARP Calls on Senate to Reject Health Bill." "The new Senate bill was crafted in secrecy behind closed doors without a single hearing or open debate – and it shows. The Senate bill would hit millions of Americans with higher costs and result in less coverage for them. AARP is adamantly opposed to the Age Tax, which would allow insurance companies to charge older Americans five times more for coverage than everyone else while reducing tax credits that help make insurance more affordable. AARP is also deeply concerned that the Senate bill cuts Medicaid funding that would strip health coverage from millions of low-income and vulnerable Americans who depend on the coverage, including 17 million poor seniors and children and adults with disabilities." [AARP, 6/22/17]
Medicare Rights Center: "Statement on the Senate Republican Health Care Overhaul Proposal." "Senate Republicans ignored the pleas of American families, who overwhelmingly oppose the AHCA. This shortsighted bikll will do irreparable harm, most significantly to Medicaid. The Senate's deep cuts to Medicaid will likely cause older adults and people with disabilities to go without essential home and community-based services, nursing home care, and assistance that helps them afford Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. Make no mistake, the 11 million people with Medicare who need Medicaid benefits will be harmed by these changes. Despite claims to the contrary, Medicare is slashed in the Senate Republicans' proposal. The bill repeals a modest tax increase only the highest earners that helped put Medicare on strong financial footing, thereby manufacturing a funding crisis that could be used later in the name of cutting earned Medicare benefits." [Medicare Rights Center, 6/22/17]
Center for Medicare Advocacy: "Real People Will Be Harmed by House & Senate Health Repeal Bills." "Last week, the Senate unveiled its ACA repeal bill, called the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 (BCRA). … Although there are some minor differences between AHCA and BCRA, as noted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, both bills would ‘do much the same damage to health care coverage, affordability, and quality.' … ‘Per capita caps' would replace the current Medicaid funding system. This would cut and cap Medicaid more deeply over time, making it harder for states to finance it, leading to reduced services for older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children. … At first glance, Medicare is not a target of current health reform efforts, but make no mistake – Medicare would be harmed by both the House and Senate bills. In addition to accelerating the insolvency of the Part A Trust Fund, and increased Part B premiums due to a repeal of a tax on prescription drugs, 1 in 5 Medicare beneficiaries also have Medicaid (individuals known as ‘dual eligibles.') Cuts to Medicaid are cuts to 11 milllion dual eligibles." [Center for Medicare Advocacy, 6/26/17]
Alliance for Retired Americans: "Senate Version of Trumpcare Is Mean Too." "We all heard President Trump say he hoped the Senate version of the American Health Care Act (ACHA) would be less ‘mean' than the House version. Today, we finally got to see the secret Senate version, and it is still ‘mean' by any reasonable test. No wonder Majority Leader McConnell hit this dangerous plan for so long. It will cause harm to millions of older Americans, all for the sake of tax breaks for the wealthy. The Senate bill decimates Medicaid. In this respect, it is worse than the House bill, enacting even deeper long-term cuts. Medicaid covers long-term care for millions of seniors and people with disabilities, making this bill devastating to older and vulnerable Americans. … The 4.4 million members of the Alliance for Retired Americans stand fervently against this legislation and urge senators to vote ‘no' for the sake of seniors, the disabled, and millions of working families." [ARA, 6/22/17]
PATIENT GROUPS
American Heart Association: "American Heart Association Says Senate Health Care Bill Misses the Beat." "The Senate draft health care bill is literally heartless. If passed it would erode the very patient protections and coverage Americans need most. … Premiums for older Americans will increase as much as five times and tax credits will be far more limited under the Affordable Care Act. Out-of-pocket costs will also rise because these credits will be linked to insurance plans that offer fewer benefits. Americans with pre-existing conditions will likewise suffer under this proposal because it would give states the ability to discriminate against the sick by obtaining waivers for essential benefits. States can then create their own essential benefit packages which could exclude prevention benefits, rehabilitation and habilitation services – all critical for people with cardiovascular disease. Insurance plans in these states will be allowed to impose annual and lifetime caps on benefits for those with chronic conditions. From our perspective, the draft Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 could have dire life-changing consequences for many heart and stroke patients." [AHA, 6/22/17]
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: "Patients With Pre-Existing Conditions Could Be Unable to Afford Meaningful Health Coverage." Preliminary analysis of the Senate bill released today shows the proposal could greatly harm millions of cancer patients, survivors and those at risk for the disease. … While the Senate bill preserves the pre-existing condition protections [i.e. the community rating provision], it allows states to waive the essential health benefits (EHBs) which could render those protections meaningless. Without guaranteed standard benefits, insurance plans would not have to offer the kind of coverage cancer patients need or could make that coverage prohibitively expensive. Plans could also once again set annual or lifetime caps on care forcing individuals to choose between their life and lifesavings." [ACS CAN, 6/22/17]
American Lung Association: "The Health Care Legislation Released Today Falls Woefully Short Of Providing Health Care For The 32 Million Americans Living With Lung Disease And Should Be Rejected." "The healthcare legislation released today falls woefully short of providing healthcare for the 32 million Americans living with lung disease and should be rejected. The Senate bill will slash funding for our nation's Medicaid program, which provides coverage for 20 percent of Americans and 39 percent of children — many of whom have asthma, COPD and other lung diseases. The proposed cuts to Medicaid under this bill will be devastating for children, seniors and people living with disabilities for whom healthcare is critical. Cuts to Medicaid will lead to more asthma attacks." [ALA, 6/22/17]
March of Dimes: "Statement on Release of the Better Care Reconciliation Act." "The bill released today fails repeatedly to prioritize and promote the needs of pregnant women, babies, and their families. … Under the BCRA, families can expect to pay higher premiums for insurance plans that fail to cover the services they need. Medicaid coverage for up to 6.5 million women of childbearing age will be rescinded, making it harder for them to get healthy before they get pregnant. States will be able to permit insurers not to cover maternity and newborn care, meaning women and their partners will have to purchase expensive additional coverage for pregnancy and pay all the costs out of pocket for their prenatal and maternity care. … The bill penalizes pregnant women, children and families at every turn. The March of Dimes calls upon all U.S. Senators to vote against this ill-conceived package, and to go back to the drawing board to produce legislation that will support the needs of moms, babies and families." [March of Dimes, 6/22/17]
Easterseals: "Easterseals Statement On the Senate Republican Release of Health Care Reform Legislation." "The Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act released today by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell jeopardizes the health and well-being of millions of children and adults with disabilities. … Capping and cutting Medicaid will hurt – not improve – the ability of a child with cerebral palsy to access physical therapy, for a student with autism to receive behavioral health services, for a young adult with a spinal cord injury to receive personal assistance services to get to his job, and for a vulnerable senior to access home health services. Easterseals urges the U.S. Senate to oppose the Better Care Reconciliation Act based on its cuts and caps to Medicaid services for children and adults with disabilities." [Easterseals, 6/22/17]
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: "Senate Health Care Bill Fails to Adequately Protect People with Cystic Fibrosis." "The Better Care Reconciliation Act is unacceptable for people with cystic fibrosis. If passed, this legislation would jeopardize our community's ability to access life-saving treatments and care. The proposal for Medicaid is particularly concerning, as it goes even further than the American Health Care Act in jeopardizing access to treatments and care by drastically cutting funding for this critical program. We implore Senators to think about the people at the heart of this legislation and oppose this bill." [Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6/22/17]
National Multiple Sclerorsis Society: "MS Society Disappointed with Senate Healthcare Bill." "The National MS Society believes the Senate bill is ill-conceived and should be rejected. While we await specifics about expected coverage losses and fiscal impact from the Congressional Budget Office, the Society encourage Senators to reject the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017 as it does not improve access to coverage and care for people living with MS. Health care is too important for a bill to be developed by handful of people in a back room that doesn't account for the real needs of people who rely on their health coverage." [MS Society, 6/22/17]
National Health Council: "National Health Council Statement on the Better Care Reconciliation Act." "The Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) unveiled this morning by the Senate is misnamed. There is nothing ‘better' about it. The BCRA will have a devastating impact on people with chronic conditions, who will pay more for access to less care. This is unacceptable. The proposed cuts to Medicaid will harm the nation's poorest and sickest populations. Congers as a whole needs to start over and produce real health care reform that makes care both comprehensive and affordable. The American people deserve better." (NHC, 6/22/17]
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): "NORD Issues Statement on the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017." "We find that the BCRA fails to meet several of the NORD Principles, and we are therefore compelled to oppose this legislation as written. … The BCRA does not adhere to several of our principles relating to prohibiting discrimination against individuals with pre-existing conditions. While we are pleased that the discussion draft does not include the onerous ‘waiver for community rating' provision that was included in the House bill, the draft would still bring back annual and lifetime limits and limitless out-of-pocket costs by allowing states to amend the Essential Health Benefits (EHB) through Section 1332 waivers. These vital protections are tied to the Federal EHB categories, and would therefore be removed if a state opts out via a 1332 waiver." [NORD, 6/22/17]
National Council For Behavioral Health: "Instead Of ‘Repeal And Replace,' It Is ‘Wreck And Wreak Havoc.'" "The Senate version of the American Health Care Act purports to be a ‘repeal and replace' of the Affordable Care Act, but is really a draconian restructuring and gutting of Medicaid, the program that covers 20% of Americans and is one of the primary payers of addiction and mental health treatment in the U.S. Instead of ‘repeal and replace,' it is ‘wreck and wreak havoc.'" [NCBH, 6/22/17]
WOMEN'S HEALTH GROUPS
Planned Parenthood Federation of America: "Planned Parenthood Demands Senate Reject Worst Bill for Women's Health In A Generation." "This bill is the worst bill for women in a generation. In addition to ‘defunding' Planned Parenthood and slashing Medicaid, it guts Essential Health Benefit protections, including maternity coverage and prescription drugs. Thirteen million women could lose coverage to maternity care under this bill. … Like the House bill, the Senate bill was largely negotiated by men behind closed doors, so it is not surprising that it closely mirrors the House version of the American Health Care Act, and would: take away health insurance from millions of people and make it less affordable for those who will still have insurance, ‘defund' Planned Parenthood by blocking people with Medicaid coverage from accessing preventive care at Planned Parenthood health centers; [cut] Essential Health Benefits protections, including maternity careand prescription drugs, which disproportionately affect women. Thirteen million women could lose coverage of maternity care under this bill; and gut the Medicaid program." [PPFA, 6/22/17]
CONSUMER GROUPS
Consumers Union: "The Devil Is In The Details, And Now That We've Seen The Bill, It's Understandable Why Senate Leaders Have Kept It Hidden Behind Closed Doors." "The devil is in the details, and now that we've seen the bill, it's understandable why Senate leaders have kept it hidden behind closed doors. Rather than starting from scratch — as Senators promised — this latest version of the American Health Care Act is equally misguided and harsh as the House bill. The consequences of the Senate's legislation are just as dangerous: millions of Americans could lose coverage, consumers would likely pay more out-of-pocket for care and higher premiums for plans that cover less, and Medicaid would be cut off at the knees. While the bill may appear to provide consideration for those with preexisting conditions, the option to waive Essential Health Benefits could leave all privately insured Americans at the mercy of annual and lifetime caps — putting meaningful coverage out of reach for many Americans, especially those with chronic and pre-existing conditions." [Consumers Union, 6/22/17]
DISABILITY GROUPS
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities: "Statement on the Better Car Reconciliation Act." "The Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities is strongly opposed to the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act. It is simply unconscionable to restructure and decimate Medicaid, which provides health care services and supports the health, function, independence, and well-being of 10 million enrollees with disabilities and their families. … Betraying the Medicaid guarantee for people with disabilities and seniors while slashing federal support will force states to cut services and eligibility that put the lives, health, and independence of peopled with disabilities at significant risk. … The Affordable Care Act has helped people, including millions of people with disabilities, gain access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance. While improvements to our health insurance system and Medicaid are needed, the Better Care Reconciliation Act undoubtedly takes us backwards, not forwards." (CCD, 6/23/17]
INSURERS
Kaiser Permanente: "Going Backwards Is Not An Option: Progress For Health Care Must Cover More, Not Fewer." "After years of progress, we are now at risk of losing ground in building the American health care system we deserve. Reports emerging the Senate indicate that the discussion is focused on how fast to roll back expansion of coverage rather than how to take the next steps forward and build on the progress we've made to date. The proposed replacement, the AHCA, would have millions of people move back to being uninsured. This is not forward progress. The evidence shows that under the AHCA, we will have 51 million uninsured individuals in America within the next decade, and those who can least afford the cost will pay more. The Senate should not aim simply to make the number of people losing insurance smaller than it would be with the ACHA." [Kaiser Permanente, 6/22/17]
Blue Shield of California: "Statement Regarding the Better Care Reconciliation Act." "Under the Affordable Care Act, 5 million Californians have obtained meaningful, and potentially life-saving, access to health care – many for the first time. This [Senate b]ill would put coverage out of reach or even take coverage away from far too many of them. California is not alone. States all across the country would not be able to make up for the dramatic cuts in federal Medicaid funding and would be forced to take people off the program or to reduce benefits. This is not an acceptable outcome." [Blue Shield of California, 6/26/17]
COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS (Including Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, League of Conservation Voters, Etc.)
Coalition of Environmental Groups: "Environmental Groups Urge Support for Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood." "On behalf of our millions of members, activists, and supporters nationwide, we urge you to support communities and populations that are at risk from environmental health harms by opposing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and maintaining funding for frontline service providers, like Planned Parenthood. While the health impacts of industrial pollution, environmental disasters, and climate change affect our society as a whole, low-income communities and people of color frequently bear the heaviest burdens. … Repealing the ACA would be a severe blow to public health, leaving all Americans worse-off, and the burden will hit historically marginalized communities hardest, further increasing health disparities. Repealing the ACA, scaling down access to Medicaid, and ‘defunding' Planned Parenthood would result in over 23 million Americans losing access to health care." [Environmental Groups, 6/23/17]
TEACHERS
American Federation Of Teachers: "This Proposal Would Be A Disaster For America's Families -- It Raises Costs, Cuts Coverage, Weakens Protections, And Ends Medicaid As We Know It." "Now that we have leafed through the 142 pages of the Senate Republicans' bill, it's obvious why they wanted to keep it a secret. This proposal would be a disaster for America's families—it raises costs, cuts coverage, weakens protections and ends Medicaid as we know it. Instead of repairing Obamacare, Republicans have doubled down on what the House-passed Trumpcare would do—rip away healthcare from millions to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. In the Senate, they just did it in a different way." [AFT, 6/22/17]
FAITH LEADERS
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: "U.S. Bishops Chairman Reacts to Draft Senate Health Care Bill: "The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is examining very closely the new Senate ‘discussion draft' introduced today. … It must be made clear now, however, that this proposal retains many of the fundamental defects ofo the House of Representatives-passed health care legislation, and even further compounds them. It is precisely the detrimental impact on the poor and vulnerable that makes the Senate draft unacceptable as written." [USCCB, 6/22/17]
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice: "The ‘Plan' Unveiled By Senate Republicans Today Continues to Be Un-American." ‘The ‘plan' unveiled by Senate Republicans today continues to be un-American. Their mission is clear: the GOP wants to push people off of healthcare coverage in order to give more tax breaks to the very wealthy. This bill is a crass political calculation carried out by 13 white, male Senators who are out of touch with the realities of millions of ordinary families in every state. They are about raw power – not working for the common good. Democracy works best when there are hearings, debate, and discussion to craft a bill that works for everyone, not just a few Senators. My faith challenges me to heal the sick and care for the widow and the orphan. This Republican bill does the opposite. This is not the faithful way forward. We urge a NO vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act." [NETWORK, 6/22/17]
Reverend Jimmie Hawkins, Director, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness: "An Unacceptable Threat To God's People." "The draconian cuts to heath care are an unacceptable threat to God's people, particularly those who have the least access to resources in our society. Passing this bill means that people will die from lack of healthcare, a reality that we as Presbyterians cannot accept. We urge all Senators of good conscience to recognize their responsibility to vote NO on the Better Care Reconciliation Act." [NETWORK, 6/22/17]
Rev. Jason Carson Wilson, Justice & Peace Policy Fellow, United Church of Christ Justice & Witness Ministries: "What Would Jesus Do? He Would Champion Healthcare For All." "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were promised to us all. Deep Medicaid cuts are destined to bring death and sadness to many. Children, seniors and people living with disabilities' lives hang in the balance. As a follower of Jesus, I'm called to comfort the afflicted. Drastic Medicaid cuts will only create more chaos and pain for those already facing challenges. What would Jesus do? He would champion healthcare for all." [NETWORK, 6/22/17]
Larry Couch, Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd: "This Wanton Disregard For Human Life Must Be Stopped." "Learning about the proposed deep cuts in Medicaid passed by the House of Representatives, the American people looked to the Senate. Sadly, the Senate plan proposes even deeper cuts in Medicaid. This wanton disregard for human life must be stopped. Millions of children living in poverty, people with disabilities, and older people in nursing homes will be denied life-saving medicine and care. Call your legislators today to stop this vicious attack on the most vulnerable people in our communities." [NETWORK, 6/22/17]