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| UPDATED: Insurers, Bipartisan Governors, Doctors, Hospitals, Veterans' Groups, and Many Others Oppose Latest Trumpcare Bill, Graham-Cassidy
After numerous failures to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have revived Trumpcare and made it worse than ever. Under the Graham-Cassidy bill, veterans, seniors, working families, women, Americans with pre-existing conditions and rural communities will suffer just so Republicans can hand tax breaks to the wealthiest.
There is a growing list of organizations that have sent letters and put out statements strongly opposing this latest version of Trumpcare. Bipartisan governors, insurers, doctors, hospitals, nurses, veterans' groups, seniors' groups, patient advocacy groups, long-term care providers, mental health and substance use disorder/addiction groups, state Medicaid directors, disability groups, local government groups, and many others have spoken out against Republicans' latest attack on the health and well-being of hard-working Americans:
A COALITION OF DOCTORS, HOSPITALS, AND INSURERS
American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, AHIP, and BlueCross BlueShield Association
"We represent the nation's doctors, hospitals, and health plans. … While we sometimes disagree on important issues in health care, we are in total agreement that Americans deserve a stable healthcare market that provides access to high-quality care and affordable coverage for all. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill does not move us closer to that goal. The Senate should reject it. We agree that the bill will cause patients and consumers to lose important protections, as well as undermine safeguards for those with pre-existing conditions. … We agree that the bill will result in dramatic cuts in Medicaid and a funding cliff in the future … This means that millions of patients will lose their coverage and go without much-needed care. We agree that the individual market will be drastically weakened, making coverage more expensive and jeopardizing Americans' choice of health plans. … We agree that the bill's current implementation timelines are not workable. .. Health care is too important to get wrong. Let's take the time to get it right. Let's agree to find real, bipartisan solutions that make health care work for every American." [9/23/17]
INSURERS
AHIP
"The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal fails to meet [key] guiding principles, and would have real consequences on consumers and patients by further destabilizing the individual market; cutting Medicaid; [and] pulling back on protections for pre-existing conditions. … While we cannot support this proposal, we will keep working to find the right solutions that reflect the commitment we all share: affordable coverage and high-quality care for every American. By working together, we can improve health care and deliver the coverage and care that every American deserves." [9/20/17]
BlueCross BlueShield Association
"…we share the significant concerns of many health care organizations about the proposed Graham-Cassidy bill. The bill contains provisions that would allow states to waive key consumer protections, as well as undermine safeguards for those with pre-existing medical conditions. The legislation reduces funding for many states significantly and would increase uncertainty in the marketplace, making coverage more expensive and jeopardizing Americans' choice of health plans." [9/20/17]
Kaiser Permanente
"At Kaiser Permanente, we believe that changes to our nation's health care laws should increase access to high-quality, affordable health care and coverage for as many people as possible. The Graham-Cassidy bill does not meet any of those tests. The block grant proposal in the bill would erode coverage of needed medical services and pose major issues for state budgets. … Moving forward, we strongly encourage policymakers to focus on the 30 million Americans currently without coverage as the priority for any additional proposals around health reform, and to ensure that any proposals maintain or expand coverage, provide incentives for high quality, and tackle affordability. [9/20/17]
BIPARTISAN GOVERNORS
10 Bipartisan Governors, including GOP Governor John Kasich (OH), GOP Governor Brian Sandoval (NV), GOP Governor Charles Baker (MA), GOP Governor Phil Scott (VT), and Independent Governor Bill Walker (AK)
"We ask you not to consider the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson amendment and renew support for bipartisan efforts to make health care more available and affordable for all Americans. Only open, bipartisan approaches can achieve true, lasting reforms." [9/19/17]
GOP Governor Larry Hogan (MD)
"Unfortunately, the Graham-Cassidy bill is not a solution that works for Maryland. It will cost our state over $2 billion annually while directly jeopardizing the health care of our citizens. We need common sense, bipartisan solutions that will stabilize markets and actually expand affordable coverage." [9/19/17]
LONG-TERM CARE PROVIDERS
American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living
"The latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act once again tries to solve the complicated question of health care reform by slashing hundreds of billions of dollars from the Medicaid program that funds essential care for the aged and disabled. The Medicaid cuts proposed in the Graham-Cassidy Bill – including a reduction in provider assessments that alone will result in billions of dollars less to long term care each year – are catastrophic. …There is no question that this bill will undermine care for vulnerable seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid, as well as tens of thousands of seniors in America's assisted living communities. … We urge Senators to oppose this legislation and protect Medicaid access for seniors and people with disabilities." [9/19/17]
MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER/ADDICTION GROUPS
NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals and 469 Other Groups (including American Society of Addiction Medicine, Addiction Resource Council, Addiction Policy Forum, and Addiction Education Society)
"The undersigned organizations [NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals and 469 other groups] are writing to share our serious concerns with several of the health system reforms in the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) proposal. We are very concerned that the GCHJ's proposed changes to our health care system will result in reductions in health care coverage, particularly for individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness, and we cannot support the bill. … Rolling back the Medicaid expansion and/or fundamentally changing Medicaid's financing structure to cap spending on health care services will certainly reduce access to evidence-based treatments and reverse much or all progress made on the opioid crisis last year. Capping federal Medicaid funding through per-capita caps or block grants would strain state budgets and likely force states to cut benefits, lower provider reimbursement rates, and/or limit access to care. These changes would be devastating to states grappling with the current opioid overdose and suicide epidemics. Moreover, the loss of Medicaid-covered mental health and substance use disorder services would result in more family disruption and out-of-home placements for children." [9/15/17]
National Council for Behavioral Health
"Last week, the ugly health care debate reared its head again on Capitol Hill with the introduction of a new bill by Senators Graham (R-SC), Cassidy (R-LA), Heller (R-NV) and Johnson (R-WI) to drastically cut Medicaid and other federal health funds to states. The bill may go by a different name than previous efforts to reshape the health care system, but it maintains – and even worsens – the devastating provisions from those bills … It's the same pig with different lipstick. Like past versions of the Senate health bill, the new legislation would result in catastrophic outcomes for the millions of Americans living with addiction or mental illness. … It repeals the Medicaid expansion, taking away states' number-one tool in fighting the opioid epidemic. Medicaid pays for 35-50% of all medication-assisted opioid treatment in states that have been hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, like Alaska, Ohio, and West Virginia. … The results for Americans with addiction or mental illness are stark: massive coverage losses and reduced access to lifesaving treatment." [9/19/17]
Mental Health Liaison Group (Coalition of 53 Groups, including National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Treatment Communities of America, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors)
"On behalf of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG), the undersigned organizations are writing today to express our strong opposition to a new Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) proposal aimed at repealing and replacing major portions of our current health care system. The GCHJ proposal fails to protect the health care coverage and consumer protections available under current law, particularly for individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness. … MHLG is a coalition of national organizations representing mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) consumers, providers, family members, payers and other MH/SUD stakeholders. … We do not support many of the … changes to the health care system in the proposal that would result in reduced access to substance use disorder and mental health treatment, including changes that would cap federal funding for Medicaid, end the Medicaid expansion, and eliminate mental health and substance use disorder benefit protections for Americans insured through the small group and individual markets." [ 9/19/17]
American Psychiatric Association
"The American Psychiatric Association today voiced its strong opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate. This legislation, the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, will lead to millions of Americans losing their health care coverage. We are particularly concerned that this bill would make drastic cuts to the Medicaid program and roll back [Medicaid] expansion, which has allowed 1.3 million Americans with serious mental illness and 2.8 million Americans with substance use disorders to gain coverage for the first time. The bill harms our most vulnerable patients." " [9/19/17]
VETERANS' GROUPS
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
"Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) strongly objects to this latest attempt to re-write this nation's health care system as embodied in the proposal put forward by Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, Dean Heller and Ron Johnson. … For veterans with disabilities, indeed all people with disabilities, the insurance protections provided by the Affordable Care Act have been among its most important provisions. By allowing insurance companies to reinstate pre-existing condition exclusions and lifetime or annual caps on coverage and permitting states to eliminate essential health services such as rehabilitative care, Graham-Cassidy will return to the days when many PVA members could not obtain affordable, high-quality health insurance coverage … It would [also] eliminate the block grant entirely after 2026, meaning that in 2027 and beyond, there would be zero funding available to replace states' Medicaid expansions and marketplace tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. As a result, states would face a severe funding shortfall that would leave them with no federal resources to continue to provide coverage for their low- and moderate-income residents who've gained coverage under the ACA's coverage expansions. What will happen to those 1.75 million veterans as well as their family members when states must dramatically reduce their Medicaid programs?" [9/25/17]
STATE MEDICAID DIRECTORS
National Association of Medicaid Directors (the Medicaid Directors from all 50 states)
"The Board of Directors of the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) urges Congress to carefully consider the significant challenges posed by the Graham-Cassidy legislation. … Our members are committed to ensuring that the programs we operate improve health outcomes while also being fiscally responsible to state and federal taxpayers. In order to succeed, however, these efforts must be undertaken in a thoughtful, deliberative, and responsible way. We are concerned that this legislation would undermine these efforts in many states and fail to deliver our collective goal of an improved health care system. … Any effort of this magnitude needs thorough discussion, examination and analysis, and should not be rushed through without proper deliberation. …. With only a few legislative days left for the entire process to conclude, there clearly is not sufficient time for policymakers, Governors, Medicaid Directors, or other critical stakeholders to engage in the thoughtful deliberation necessary to ensure successfully long-term reforms." [9/22/17]
DOCTORS/OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
American Medical Association
"The Graham-Cassidy Amendment would result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage, destabilize health insurance markets, and decrease access to affordable coverage and care. … In addition, the amendment does not take steps toward coverage and access for all Americans, and while insurers are still required to offer coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions, allowing states to get waivers to vary premiums based on health status would allow insurers to charge unaffordable premiums based on those pre-existing conditions." [9/19/17]
Six Provider Groups, Including American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Osteopathic Association, and American Psychiatric Association
"Our organizations, which represent over 560,000 physicians, oppose the new Graham-Cassidy bill and its approach to reforming our health care system. The proposal fails to protect the health care coverage and consumer protections available under current law. Additionally, it would create a health care system built on state-by-state variability that would exacerbate inequities in coverage and most likely place millions of vulnerable individuals at risk of losing their health care coverage." [9/13/17]
American Nurses Association
"The Graham-Cassidy bill – also supported by Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) – is not substantially different from any of the other repeal and replace bills we have seen from House and Senate Republicans. … It repeals Medicaid expansion in 2020; it eliminates the $1 billion Prevention and Public Health Fund; … it puts a per-capita cap on Medicaid; it ends premium tax credit assistance and cost-sharing subsidies and puts greater control of healthcare spending in state hands. … As with all other repeal and replace proposals to date, the current proposal fulfills none of ANA's 4 principles for health system transformation." [9/19/17]
AIDS United, The AIDS Institute, NMAC, NASTAD, and NCSD
"We urge Senate Republicans to protect the health care needs of vulnerable individuals living with and at risk for HIV and other STDs by opposing the Cassidy-Graham-Heller-Johnson Amendment to H.R. 1628, the ‘American Health Care Act of 2017.' The proposal would strip coverage from those who need it most – people with low incomes, living with life-threatening and chronic conditions, or with pre-existing medical conditions. Their plan would raise costs for people with insurance and slash support for states that have acted with compassion to expand the health safety net." [9/19/17]
Association of American Medical Colleges
"On behalf of the nation's medical schools and major teaching hospitals, I write to express our strong opposition to the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) proposal currently being circulated, and to urge you to vote against this measure if brought to the Senate floor… Under this legislation, the number of uninsured patients nationwide will increase dramatically and important existing patient protections will be at risk." [9/19/17]
HOSPITALS
American Hospital Association
"The American Hospital Association (AHA) is writing to express our opposition to the Graham-Cassidy proposal being considered in the Senate. … Any changes to federal investment in health care must protect coverage, which is critical to ensuring that patients have access to the care they need. ,,, The Congressional Budget Office has not yet scored the [Graham-Cassidy] proposal. However, an analysis conducted by KNG Health Consulting for the AHA found that more than 20 million individuals would lose coverage by 2026, and the proposal would result in $275 billion less in federal funding to states. … We are particularly concerned about how the major changes in the Medicaid program will impact the most vulnerable members of our communities, including disabled children, individuals with dementia who rely on long-term care services and supports, and individuals with chronic conditions such as cancer. …. All individuals should be assured that their coverage is comprehensive and will meet their needs. We strongly oppose provisions in the bill that could reduce the essential health benefit package and increase premiums for individuals with pre-existing conditions, potentially pricing them out of coverage." [9/25/17]
Federation of American Hospitals
"The Graham-Cassidy proposal could disrupt access to health care for millions of the more than 70 million Americans who depend on Medicaid and the marketplaces for their health coverage. It is time to move on to secure the health coverage for those who have it, and find solutions for those who don't. We urge the Senate to reject legislation that fails to move us forward in assuring Americans access to affordable health care and coverage." [9/20/17]
America's Essential Hospitals
"Throughout this year's health care debate, America's Essential Hospitals stood by its position that policy changes must maintain coverage for those who have it, preserve access, and protect hospitals that care for low-income and other vulnerable people. … the plan appears to violate those core principles. It appears to significantly restrict health care funding through per-capita caps and block grants, which would shift costs to states, patients, providers, and taxpayers. Further, by taking an approach so close to that of the earlier House and Senate plans, it's reasonable to conclude it would have a similar result: millions of Americans losing coverage." [9/15/17]
Children's Hospital Association
"[This] legislation would slash funding for Medicaid, the nation's largest health care program for children, by one-third, reducing access and coverage for more than 30 million children in the program. … By converting Medicaid into a capped program that limits funding to the states, the bill removes the certainty states count on to be able to provide health care coverage to their most vulnerable children. … This bill would have devastating consequences for children and families." [9/18/17]
Catholic Health Association
"I urge you to contact your Senators today and tell them to: Vote ‘NO' on the Graham-Cassidy legislation to repeal and replace ACA – which eliminates Medicaid expansion coverage, premium tax credits, and cost-sharing reduction subsidies and replace them with state block grants." [9/19/17]
SENIORS' GROUPS
AARP
"Older Americans care deeply about access to and affordability of health care. They need and deserve affordable premiums, lower out-of-pocket costs, and coverage they can count on as they age. On behalf of our nearly 38 million members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP is urging the Senate to reject the Graham/Cassidy/Heller/Johnson bill because it would do precisely the opposite. Overall, the Graham/Cassidy/Heller/Johnson bill would increase health care costs for older Americans with an age tax, decrease coverage, and undermine pre-existing condition protections. In addition, this bill would jeopardize the ability of older Americans and people with disabilities to stay in their own homes as they age and threaten coverage for individual in nursing homes." [9/19/17]
National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
"Like the House-passed American Health Care Act, the Graham-Cassidy bill would leave millions of Americans uninsured and would be particularly harmful to older and disabled Americans. … This bill is particularly objectionable because it would: jeopardize long-term care and other supportive services by restructuring Medicaid into per capita caps or block grants; … end Medicaid expansion; … [and] drive up seniors' out-of-pocket costs by repealing the ACA's tax credit and cost-sharing subsidies." [9/20/17]
Center for Medicare Advocacy and Medicare Rights Center
"On behalf of the Medicare Rights Center and the Center for Medicare Advocacy, we are writing to express our staunch opposition to the recently unveiled substitute to H.R.1628, commonly referred to as the ‘Graham-Cassidy' bill. … We are deeply concerned that the latest amendment to H.R.1628, like its predecessors, puts the availability of affordable health coverage and care for older Americans and people with disabilities at risk. The Graham-Cassidy bill would dramatically diminish the benefits that near retirees and people with disabilities receive from the coverage expansions and consumer protections advanced through the Affordable Care Act." [9/19/17]
Alliance for Retired Americans
"Senators Graham and Cassidy saved the worst for last. Their bill will take affordable health care away from at least 32 million Americans. It includes an age tax for older Americans, allowing insurers to charge older Americans sky high rates compared to younger workers. People with pre-existing conditions will also lose the protections they had under the ACA. We're outraged that this bill is the first step in ending Medicaid as we know it. … Medicaid provides health insurance for millions of elderly and disabled Americans. By any definition, this bill is beyond cruel and will have devastating impacts. Americans want affordable, quality health care but the Graham-Cassidy plan will make older and sicker Americans pay more. Those who need coverage the most will face rising premiums and costs. [9/20/17]
Justice in Aging
"Yesterday, Senators Graham and Cassidy released yet another ACA repeal and replace bill that would have devastating consequences for the health and well-being of older Americans. .. By terminating Medicaid expansion and imposing per capita caps and block grants, this proposal would cut Medicaid spending by hundreds of billions over the next decade. Millions of older adults and people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to live in their homes and communities would be at risk of losing coverage as states are forced to cut services. … Graham- Cassidy would wreck havoc in the individual market as well … States would have the option to waive many of the ACA's most vital consumer protections and allow insurers to charge people more based on health status and cover fewer benefits. Older adults would face unaffordable premiums in a market that divides the young and healthy from those who have pre-existing conditions. Many of those who could afford the premiums would be underinsured facing bare-bones coverage and skyrocketing deductibles." [9/14/17]
LeadingAge
"On behalf of LeadingAge and older adults across America, I write to oppose the Graham-Cassidy bill. … Per capita caps and block grants would cut Medicaid deeply when the need is greatest, when the ‘baby boom' generation begins turning 80. Aging baby boomers will need long-term care services more than ever just as Medicaid is being cut… Medicaid funding for older adults would no longer automatically increase to account for per-beneficiary costs such as prescription drug prices or costs resulting from dementia and other debilitating chronic conditions. … People in need of long-term care are often the oldest and most vulnerable among us, with complex health conditions. They have few options and very few can pay for these services on their own. Medicaid is essential to enabling them to live out their later years in dignity and respect. I urge you to oppose the Graham-Cassidy bill. It is bad for older adults and bad for America." [9/25/17]
PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS
Sixteen Patient Advocacy and Provider Groups, including American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and March of Dimes
"Sixteen patient and provider groups oppose the proposal put forward by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) that will negatively impact patients' access to adequate and affordable health coverage and care. This bill would limit funding for the Medicaid program, roll back important essential health benefit protections, and potentially open the door to annual and lifetime caps on coverage, endangering access to critical care for millions of Americans. Affordable, adequate care is vital to the patients we represent. This legislation fails to provide Americans with what they need to maintain their health. In fact, much of the proposal just repackages the problematic provisions of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which we opposed. Fortunately, the BCRA was voted down by Congress earlier this year." [9/18/17]
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
"In addition, the bill eliminates the marketplace premium subsidies and cost sharing subsidies, effectively shutting down the marketplace created under current law. Finally, the bill would roll back important essential health benefit protections … endangering access to critical care for millions of Americans. Accordingly, we are urging senators to oppose the legislation because it completely fails to protect cancer patients and millions of other Americans who would lose their coverage and access to affordable health care." [9/19/17]
National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD)
"The Senate is currently considering a proposal put forward by Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller, and Johnson that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). If passed, this plan (known as ‘Grassley-Cassidy') has the potential to jeopardize access to care for millions of individuals with rare diseases. Once more we used our Principles for Health Care Reform published in February to evaluate this proposal. In doing so, we found that not only does this plan contain the same concerning aspects of the American Health Care Act and the Better Care Reconciliation Act, but it also contains additional provisions that would further allow insurers to discriminate against individuals with pre-existing conditions. Therefore, we strongly oppose this legislation, and urge Senators to join us in opposition." [9/19/17]
LOCAL GOVERNMENT GROUPS
U.S. Conference of Mayors
"The Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal and replace plan is a bad pill for the American healthcare system. … This bill would force Americans in cities big and small to pay more for less care and would end Medicaid expansion, which has been a lifeline for children, seniors, people with disabilities and substance use disorders. This proposal would let Washington walk away, and saddle state and local governments with the skyrocketing healthcare costs – forcing them to cover fewer people, reduce care, or make up by cutting other needed programs." [9/19/17]
National League of Cities
"Late last week, a group of U.S. Senators released legislation that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). … it would likely result in millions of additional Americans losing their health insurance over the next decade, destabilizing the individual market and increasing average premiums. Once again, cities are calling on Congress to reject a last-ditch and hastily constructed attempt to fix America's health care system. This proposal, veiled as an attempt to give decision-making power to states, ultimately reduces the amount of Medicaid funding available to states, weakens guarantees for essential health benefits in all plans and passes an unsustainable financial burden to cities, states, and medical providers." [9/19/17]
DISABILITY GROUPS
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
"The undersigned members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) write to express strong opposition to the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) proposal. As we have commented on multiple proposals considered by the Senate, we cannot overstate the danger facing the millions of adults and children with disabilities if the proposal's Medicaid provisions are adopted." [9/19/17]
The Arc
"While this legislation has a new title and makes new promises, it is more of the same threats to Medicaid and those who rely on it for a life in the community. The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal cuts and caps the Medicaid program. The loss of federal funding is a serious threat to people with disabilities and their families who rely on Medicaid for community based supports. … The Arc remains staunchly opposed to legislation that includes per capita caps or block granting of Medicaid." [9/14/17]
FARMERS' GROUPS
National Farmers Union
"I write on behalf of nearly 200,000 members of the National Farmers Union (NFU) who are engaged in all forms of family farming and ranching. … The Graham-Cassidy bill does not address the barriers that farmers and ranchers face in accessing health coverage, and it would only make matters worse. We urge you to vote no on the legislation. … The Graham-Cassidy plan would eliminate tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, and subsidies for out-of-pocket costs. Each of these provisions is critical to making health care more affordable for family farmers and ranchers. … The Graham-Cassidy bil would [also] make it easier to deny farming and ranching families important protections and services." [9/21/17]
CONSUMER GROUPS
Consumers Union
"The Graham-Cassidy bill is the third strike in this losing game of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Just like its predecessors, this plan would leave tens of millions uninsured, threaten key consumer protections and coverage requirements, and fundamentally alter Medicaid by drastically cutting funding and shifting billions of dollars of healthcare costs onto states and consumers. This is just another version of the previous failed proposals that were not only rejected by the majority of Americans, they were rejected by the Senate itself." [9/13/17]
WOMEN'S HEALTH GROUPS
Planned Parenthood
"The Graham-Cassidy bill is a serious threat to the health care of millions of Americans. The bill is the worst Obamacare repeal bill yet: Millions of Planned Parenthood patients could lose their health care if the Graham-Cassidy bill were to pass – millions more would lose their coverage through Medicaid, and could lose essentials like maternity care and coverage for prescription drugs. … Enough is enough. With this latest version of Trumpcare, Americans will pay more and get less, but women will pay the biggest price of all." [9/18/17]
WOMEN'S GROUPS
National Partnership for Women and Families
"The repeal bill Senators Lindsey Graham, Bill Cassidy, Dean Hellen and Ron Johnson introduced today is yet another assault on the health care women and families on. This bill would cause tens of millions of people to lose their insurance coverage. It would cause costs to skyrocket. It would end Medicaid as we know it and repeal the Medicaid expansion. It would allow states to waive key consumer protections and guarantees of coverage of maternity care and other essential health benefits. And it would block millions of people from getting preventive care – including birth control and screenings for cancer and sexually transmitted infections – at the Planned Parenthood health clinics they rely on for quality care." [9/13/17]
MomsRising
"This most recent effort to roll back health care harms women, moms, children and our economy. … The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill , like many repeal bills that came before it, would make health coverage less accessible, less affordable, and less comprehensive. The cuts to federal funding for Medicaid would be especially damaging to women (who make up two-thirds of Medicaid's adult enrollees); the program also covers more than half of all childbirths. The bill would also end the Medicaid expansion, which has allowed 3.9 million women to gain access to health coverage. [9/20/17]
OTHER GROUPS
Third Way
"When Republicans have nothing left to offer, they reach for their old stand-by: block grants. The Graham-Cassidy bill is terrible. This last-ditch effort to repeal and replace Obamacare is yet another effort to bring an unforced catastrophe to our health care system. It would replace federal funding for health coverage with a state-run system. It would cut funding for coverage in all states and punish states that have expanded Medicaid with even greater cuts. It uses state waivers to gut federal protections for coverage of pre-existing conditions, limits on insurance premiums for older and sicker Americans, and essential benefits like pregnancy coverage. In short, it would make health care less stable and less secure." [9/18/17]
National Health Law Program
"The National Health Law Program is a national, non-profit organization that protects and advances the health rights of low and underserved individuals. We strongly oppose the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson amendment (‘Graham-Cassidy') as its substance would decimate the Medicaid program and throw the country's health care system into chaos. …. Medicaid is a vital program not only for the 74 million individuals enrolled at any point in time but also to health are providers, our communities, and our states. … The Graham-Cassidy proposal would effectively repeal Medicaid expansion … and convert Medicaid into a per capita cap, coupled with billions of dollars in cuts. Every state will be impacted and all will be forced to make deep cuts in services and eligibility." [9/20/17]
American Public Health Association
"On behalf of the American Public Health Association, a diverse community of public health professionals who champion the health of all people and communities, I write to express our strong opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill and any other legislation that would repeal or weaken the Affordable Care Act. Similar to other proposals that we ardently opposed, the Graham-Cassidy plan would have the same damaging consequences for the health of Americans, especially the most vulnerable." [9/18/17]