Udall, Heinrich feature Loving schools in ‘Trumpcare’ opposition speeches

June 20--Senator Tom Udall displayed a picture of Loving students on the floor of the U.S. Senate Tuesday, and told fellow legislators that New Mexico schools are currently reimbursed $18 million from Medicaid.

Udall and Senator Martin Heinrich discussed consequences of the American Health Care Act for New Mexico, including how the state would not have to consider schools as "Medicaid-eligible providers" through the Act -- also known as "Trumpcare."

"The problem is that New Mexico public schools cannot take on these kinds of costs. And that might mean hundreds of school children each year will go without vision, hearing and mental health treatment because no one else will be able to provide them," said Udall.

Udall quoted Loving superintendent Ann Lynn McIlroy, mentioning that Medicaid funding is vital this rural school district.

If approved, the Act will repeal and replace the current Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the proposed healthcare act May 4.

Udall also discussed healthcare for Native Americans. He said coverage under the Indian Health Services (IHS) has been limited due to lack of funding, which changed with the help of Medicaid expansion.

When a woman from the Pueblo of Zuni was having difficulty funding a knee replacement through IHS, Udall said she eventually received the procedure through the Medicaid expansion.

Heinrich said rural hospitals, opioid treatment and healthcare for Native Americans are some of the most important subjects in New Mexico's healthcare system.

"That's part of the reason why both of us come to the floor today (Tuesday) given what's at stake," Heinrich said. "It (Trumpcare) would destroy the Medicaid program as it currently exist in our state and throw our entire healthcare system into chaos."

Heinrich said under Trumpcare, New Mexicans may spend thousands more for less healthcare than is currently offered.

Heinrich criticized Republican senators who are creating their own version of a healthcare bill calling them "deeply irresponsible."

"The House-passed Trumpcare bill is devastating to low income families, to seniors and to Americans living with pre-existing conditions. This isn't so much a healthcare bill as it is a tax cut for the ultra-rich masquerading as health reform," Heinrich said.

Udall pointed to the lack of hearings on the bill and how public participation was blocked, citing that the Senate held 100 hearings, round-tables and walk-throughs for Obamacare.

Udall introduced the No Hearing, No Vote Act, which would require public committee hearings "for any legislation that goes through the fast-tracked 'budget reconciliation"' process -- including the Trumpcare legislation.

"If we want to improve on Obamacare, we could, one, make sure that all Americans have healthcare. And two, make healthcare more affordable," Udall said.

America Speaks Out

Heinrich urges New Mexicans who oppose Trumpcare to voice their opinion on the proposed healthcare act through social media.

The #AmericaSpeaksOut hashtag can be used to share a video or photo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Heinrich hopes this will help New Mexicans explain why they value affordable coverage for pre-existing conditions, why cuts to Medicaid may negatively affect them, their worry on healthcare costs and reasons Trumpcare would be a risk to them.

"Right now, Senate Republicans are drafting their version of the bill in secret, behind closed doors, with absolutely no bipartisan input. The stakes are especially high for New Mexicans and their voices must be heard," Heinrich said in a news release.

DeJanay Booth can be reached at 575-628-5546, [email protected] and @DeJanayBooth on Twitter.

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