Speaker: Obamacare repeal could hurt local jobs

Jan. 16--Repealing the Affordable Care Act could be a disaster for individuals who need health insurance, and possibly for the local economy.

That's what Dr. Mark Liebow, a Mayo Clinic physician, told a group of about 50 people who gathered Sunday at Peace United Church of Christ in support of health care programs now threatened by a new administration and Congress in Washington.

"Repeal (of the ACA) is bad." said Liebow, an associate professor at Mayo who specializes in health policy. "Repeal and delay is not much better."

Noting that Republicans who want to eliminate the ACA have not been able to come up with a replacement plan, Liebow said, "Repeal is repeal -- and then God knows what."

If the Republicans proposals become law, he said, "Lots and lots of people will not be able to afford health insurance."

Liebow, who is also a local DFL Party official, said Republican plans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, along with proposed changes in Medicare and Medicaid, are projected to cost at least two million health care jobs nationwide. In Rochester, he said, Mayo Clinic is far and away the biggest employer. "This town could collapse if all of these things happen," he said.

"The Affordable Care Act has problems," he said. "But this is like burning down the house to get rid of the mice."

Also speaking at the event was Rep. Duane Sauke (DFL-Rochester), who outlined proposed insurance premium rebate proposals being debated in St. Paul. Sauke said he generally supports Gov. Mark Dayton's $312-million rebate plan. That plan, according to printed materials Sauke handed out, would let consumers know immediately how much of a premium rebate they will receive. By contrast, the Republicans' $276-million proposal would delay relief for consumers until 2018.

Rallies and information sessions in support of health care programs were held in numerous places nationwide Sunday at the urging of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

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