Udall Speaks Out after Senate Republicans Unveil TrumpCare Bill to Drastically Cut Medicaid, Essential Health Care
Reads the emotional testimony of an
In his speech, Udall called TrumpCare a "disgrace and a disaster," saying that "the Republican plan raids Medicaid. It strips away protections that prevent insurance companies from canceling your policy for getting sick - and reduces the services your insurer has to provide, and it does this all to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthy."
Udall decried the secretive and closed process
Udall read the testimony of Elena, who, at 29, discovered she had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer. Thanks to the Medicaid expansion in Obamacare, Elena was able to afford a prophylactic mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing breast cancer to less than 10 percent-- less than that of the average woman. In her testimony, Elena wrote, "I am so grateful that I qualified for Medicaid at a time in my life when I unexpectedly needed health insurance more than I could have ever anticipated."
Udall highlighted the devastating impacts that the Medicaid cuts alone in TrumpCare would have on
Udall urged his Republican colleagues to reject this bill and work with
[Please contact Udall's press office if you need a photo of Elena.]
The full text of Udall's remarks is available below.
Mr. President. All across my home state of
Since early January -- I've received over 10,000 letters, emails, and calls from New Mexicans pleading with me to help save their access to health care. Over 96 percent of my constituents who have contacted me about health care oppose TrumpCare.
Let me say that again, because I think it's a very important number here -- 96 percent of New Mexicans who have contacted me about health care over the past six months are opposed to TrumpCare and they're opposed to the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Mr. President, the TrumpCare bill is a disgrace and a disaster.
It is a disgrace that
They are doing this even though this bill affects one sixth of our economy. And even though it would cause hundreds of thousands of people in
The Republican plan raids Medicaid. It strips away protections that prevent insurance companies from canceling your policy for getting sick -- and reduces the services your insurer has to provide, and it does this all to pay for massive tax cuts for the wealthy.
Mr. President, this bill is a disaster because it would be devastating for older New Mexicans, families who are struggling to make ends meet, women, people with pre-existing conditions, and New Mexicans in rural areas. Our rural areas would be particularly hard hit. In some cases, it would cause very severe damage to the health care in rural areas.
Hospital administrators in rural counties - like Guadalupe and Socorro in my home state - have told me that losing Medicaid reimbursements could break their budgets. And that could force these small, rural hospitals to limit services - or even to close. And you know, the last thing you want to happen in a small rural community is have the hospital close, because we all know what happens after that. Hospital closes, and the diminution in services and it's very hard for communities to stay alive in that situation.
So it's no wonder that the American people don't want this bill. They don't want TrumpCare. And, I suppose, it's no surprise that the
I want to talk about that for a moment. That's not just a talking point for
But if this bill passes and becomes law, many people will suffer. And it has been kept a total secret.
Mr. President, I wish I could read on the
I've shared several in the past. But today, I'd like to read just one. From Elena, from Albuquerque.This is a picture of Elena, from
Elena is 31 years old. Earlier this week, I told some of Elena's story in a speech here on the
Elena graduated last year from the
And she is quite determined and motivated, as you will hear.
She wrote her story in a Facebook post to friends -- and gave me permission to share it with the American people and with my colleagues in the
Here is her story. This is Elena's story, in Elena's words:
For the past 18 months I've been carrying around a big secret. I've felt really guilty for not sharing it, and yet -- try as I might -- I could not work up the nerve to tell you all. Lucky for me,
In spring 2016, I found out that I have a BRCA 1 mutation, which puts me at a very high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Women with a BRCA 1 mutation also tend to get breast and/or ovarian cancer very young. Sometimes even in their twenties or thirties.
When you have a BRCA 1 mutation, you have two options: One, you can get breast screenings every six months and yearly ovarian screenings, and keep your fingers crossed that nothing pops up. Or two, you can get your breasts and ovaries removed and significantly decrease your odds of getting cancer. Needless to say, there's not really a "right" decision. A woman's choice just comes down to what she feels is right for her body and life.
In the past 18 months, I've gotten to check a whole lot of things off my "absolutely not on my bucket list" bucket list. In
These tests thankfully revealed that I didn't have breast cancer. They also helped me to make the difficult decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy and significantly reduce my chances of getting breast cancer.
In
Since February, I've been focusing on healing, and I feel great.
Obviously, this isn't the end of the road. Doctors suggest that women with a BRCA 1 mutation get their ovaries removed around age 40. And of course screening will continue to be important. But for now, I feel at peace knowing that I'm doing what I can to protect myself.
As
I first enrolled in Medicaid about three years ago when I was a law student at
UNM had just given qualifying students the opportunity to enroll in Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. I was a healthy 29 year-old with no preexisting conditions, and doubted I would ever use my health insurance. Little did I know, completing the Medicaid application would be one of the most important decisions I ever made.
So, a truly genuine, #thanksObama to
I am so grateful that I qualified for Medicaid at a time in my life when I unexpectedly needed health insurance more than I could have ever anticipated.
I am so thankful the drafters of the ACA understood that allowing me to get the preventative care I needed was better for my health, and also more financially sound. The ease with which I have received my medical coverage has allowed me to focus on my recovery.
While it has been a challenging year and a half, knowing that I could trust my health insurance made it so much easier than I'd imagined it would be.
I am so relieved that now I can focus on my future instead of figuring out how to pay off insurmountable medical debt.
I am fully recovered from my surgeries and am working on moving my life and career forward. I look forward to paying taxes (I swear, I really do) to support programs like Medicaid so that I can do my part to assist other Americans in staying healthy.
If you had told me when I signed up for Medicaid that I would make such extensive use of it, I wouldn't have believed it. At times, I have felt guilty for having to utilize Medicaid at a time in my life that has proven to be so medically and financially complicated.
Friends and family have been good enough to remind me that this is what Medicaid is about: ensuring that Americans can afford to take care of their health, regardless of their financial state, when an issue strikes. The Affordable Care Act has made this a reality for more people than ever before; I am so grateful to be one of them.
I am very scared for what the future will bring for those many individuals who have received insurance thanks to the ACA. I worry that if the ACA is destroyed, my preexisting condition will make it financially impossible for me and many others to get health insurance.
I worry for people who couldn't get insurance through their work and were finally were able to get it through the Exchange. I worry that those who suffer from ailments that constantly affect their health won't be able to afford the care they need.
I worry about the millions of Americans who are about to lose so much.
I understand that the ACA is not perfect. It needs some work, especially for people on the exchange who are paying premiums that are way too high. But the replacement plan that is being proposed is going to make it incredibly difficult for all of us to get quality, affordable coverage.
There are no words to adequately express my gratitude to all those who worked so tirelessly to make the Affordable Care Act happen. I am so hopeful that instead of destroying the ACA, our leaders will work to make it stronger so that all Americans can get the health care they deserve.
And those are the words that Elena posted on her Facebook page, very moving, very moving words.
Mr. President, before her surgery, Elena had an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer. And now, it's less than 10 percent -- less than that of the average woman.
I commit to Elena and to every New Mexican and American that I will work to make the ACA stronger - so that all Americans get the health care they rightly deserve.
But the
Americans support the Medicaid program.
They understand that - even if they don't need Medicaid - neighbors, friends, family may need it. And they understand that they may need it - unexpectedly, in the future - like Elena.
Medicaid expansion has meant that over 265,000 New Mexicans have health care coverage that they did not have before.
Pretty remarkable thing, in 6 short years in
The Senate Republican bill - like the House Republican bill - will end Medicaid expansion in
Mr. President, I want everyone listening to hear: This bill cuts Medicaid overall - more deeply than the House version. And when
They are also devastating to our state economies.
Elena's story is one of millions. Every Senator has hundreds and thousands of constituents with these stories.
We all need health care at some point in our lives.
I urge, I implore, my fellow Senators across the aisle to reject the McConnell TrumpCare bill. Work with
Don't do this. Don't gut our health care system.
Read this original document at: https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-udall-speaks-out-after-senate-republicans-unveil-trumpcare-bill-to-drastically-cut-medicaid-essential-health-care
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