National Health Law Program Condemns Ongoing Congressional Efforts to Destroy Health Care Reform

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 -- The National Health Law Program issued the following news release:

Senate Republicans early this morning approved a budget resolution that would help quickly repeal the Affordable Care Act, a landmark reform law that has provided insurance to 30 million Americans, and lowered health care costs for millions more. The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) deplores this mad rush to undo health care reform.

"As President Obama told Vox last week, the repeal and delay agenda is a grievous disservice to Americans. Indeed, poll after poll shows that Americans do not support a reckless reversal of the health care reform that is making their families healthier and more financially secure. The Senate's action is a callous disregard for the tens of millions of individuals who are able to afford health care coverage as a result of the ACA," said NHeLP Executive Director Elizabeth G. Taylor.

Taylor continued, "President-elect Trump and congressional leaders have provided no plan for replacement of the ACA. They are refusing to answer the tough questions, like what happens to the fourteen million Americans who gained health coverage because of the ACA's Medicaid expansion? What about the number of children, upwards of 4 million, who would lose insurance because of a repeal of the ACA?

A repeal of the ACA would also cause premiums to spike for tens of millions of Americans and result in higher prescription drug prices. Repeal with no placement would yank preventive health services from low-income women.

Repeal with no credible replacement would give hundreds of billions in tax breaks to the wealthy, insurance companies, and drug manufactures, while wiping out tax credits for millions of working families.

The president-elect and congressional leaders are promising a quick replacement but the plans Republicans have supported in the past fall far short of what the ACA currently provides. Their plans, for instance, would weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and in many cases would permit insurance companies to deny them coverage or charge astronomical premiums. We will not support a replacement that does not provides at least the same levels of comprehensive, affordable coverage to as many individuals as are currently covered by the ACA.

The American people deserve far better, and some senators, even Republicans, have admitted as much, urging their colleagues to slow down. Lawmakers should change course, and halt the irresponsible and unnecessary efforts to repeal the ACA."

Please contact the NHeLP Communications department at leaming@healthlaw.org or 202-552-5176 for further comment regarding the political efforts to undo health care reform.

NHeLP, founded in 1969, advocates for the rights of low-income and underserved people to access quality health care.

30FurigayJane-5744798 30FurigayJane