Pelosi defends Affordable Care Act in Lawrence

Oct. 17--LAWRENCE -- Federal government went local on Tuesday, as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi attended a health care forum at Lawrence General Hospital, moderated by congressional hopeful Lori Trahan, Democratic nominee for the 3rd Congressional District.

Lawrence General CEO Dianne Anderson opened the forum by stressing the local impact of the federal mandate passed under the Obama administration in 2010, with an emphasis on affordability for patients served by the hospital.

"Gaining access to coverage, getting preventive care and covering pre-existing conditions are critical, key components of the Affordable Care Act," said Anderson. "No one should be forced to choose between paying for insurance and putting food on the table. The ACA has enabled our patients to receive affordable, quality health care."

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, represents the national health care system's broadest expansion of coverage since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

It has faced push-back from Republicans in Congress since its enactment, with multiple efforts to repeal and replace it.

Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress with support of President Donald Trump, narrowly failed to pass a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Emelissa Sacchetti, transition of care pharmacist with LGH, spoke to the importance of access to health care in communities like Lawrence.

"I've had patients come in who have stopped taking their medications because they can't afford food or rent," she said. "When I talk to patients like this, it's very sad. Being born and raised in Lawrence to immigrant family ... it's very important for me to be able to provide first-class service to every patient."

"That's my mom, my aunt, my grandmother. I do 100 percent for every patient," she said, speaking through tears at the deeply personal nature of her work. "I am very happy to live in Massachusetts and know the Affordable Care Act started here. and is an example for the entire country."

Democrats, who are trying to win back the House and Senate, say they must continue to fight for the existence of the expanded coverage.

"Never has there been a more important time to preserve Americans' access to affordable health care," said Pelosi. "As Democrats, we will keep working to strengthen the health law, lower families' health care and prescription drug costs, and ensure that we advance better outcomes for the people."

"I believe today we would win the Congress for the American people ... we're putting one good day in front of the other," Pelosi told reporters after the panel.

Pelosi said during the event that the Affordable Care Act was a necessary step to try and make the health care system more sustainable and economically viable.

"If everyone loved their health care and their insurer, and nobody needed anything personally, we would still have had to pass the Affordable Care Act, because health care in our country was unsustainable financially for individuals, small businesses, for corporate America, for local, state and federal government," she continued.

Trahan welcomed Pelosi at a campaign fundraiser Tuesday morning in Concord. In addition to supporting Democrats in congressional races, Pelosi is seeking support herself. The San Francisco congresswoman is seek to shore up support among her fellow Democrats in her bid to remain minority leader, or, if her party retakes the House, to be elected speaker.

Trahan deferred a reporter's question about her unwillingness to commit to back Pelosi for minority leader or speaker of the House.

"I've got three weeks, I am head-down focused on winning this election. The leader is as head-down winning elections across this country. That's a conversation I look forward to having once I get through Nov. 6," she said.

Pelosi also deferred a question about Trahan's -- and other candidates' -- noncommittal stance on her.

"I'm about one thing: Winning this Congress for the American people ... What one person or another wants to say about me is not so important as what this election is about."

The health care panel included Congresswoman Niki Tsongas; D-Lowell; Congresswoman Katherine Clark, D-Melrose; Jen Childs-Roshak, head of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts; Robin Hynds, a registered nurse with Lawrence General Hospital and vice president of care continuum and network development; and Emelissa Sacchetti, transition of care pharmacist with LGH.

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