Fact Sheet

The presumed incoming ranking member on the Senate HELP Committee, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)’s record on health care is as abysmal as they come. Over the years, Cassidy has voted to rip health care coverage from millions of Americans and strip protections from as many as 130 million people with pre-existing conditions, and his own 2017 repeal bill was the worst of the bunch. Senator Cassidy has also opposed provisions before Congress that would lower drug prices, expand coverage, improve care for seniors, and level the playing field for working families. Republicans like Senator Cassidy are completely out of touch with the economic and health worries that keep families up at night as they continue to put industry profits ahead of their constituents. 

Bill Cassidy’s Plan To Repeal The Affordable Care Act Would Leave Tens Of Millions Without Care

After the failure of Donald Trump’s other attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Bill Cassidy partnered with Lindsey Graham and Dean Heller on a proposal that would have radically changed our health care system – ending the Affordable Care Act tax credits and Medicaid expansion and changing them into block grants with dramatically less funding for states. It would have also converted traditional Medicaid into a per capita cap program permanently. This bill aimed to slash coverage, raise costs, eliminate protections for millions of people across America and gut Medicaid. In fact, it was the worst of the repeal bills that were proposed in 2017 and its bad ideas have lingered on for years. 

Cassidy’s Bill Was Worse than Other Repeal Bills 

Analysts Agreed: Every State Would Have Suffered Under Graham-Cassidy Affecting People’s Care. Multiple independent analyses agreed that the Graham-Cassidy repeal bill would have cut federal funding to states. Over time, every state would lose because Graham-Cassidy proposed to zero out its block grants and ratchet down its spending on the Medicaid per capita cap. This meant people would not have access to the financial assistance to help lower their health care bills, and federal Medicaid funding would no longer adjust for public health emergencies, prescription drug or other cost spikes, or other unexpected increases in need. 

Cassidy’s Health Care Plan Cut Care For Millions Of Americans

Under Graham-Cassidy 32 Million Would Lose Health Coverage. As a result of zeroing out block grants for Marketplace tax credits and Medicaid expansion and additional cuts to Medicaid, the Graham-Cassidy bill essentially repealed the Affordable Care Act without replacing it. 

Millions Enrolled Through Medicaid Expansion Would Be Put At Risk. The Graham-Cassidy bill would have eliminated Medicaid expansion, which has helped more than 15 million Americans receive quality, affordable coverage, and put part of its funding into inadequate block grants. The bill would have further punished states that expanded Medicaid by redistributing funds to states that did not expand Medicaid. 

More Than 70 Million Americans with Medicaid Coverage, Including Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Children, Would Be Put At Risk. The Graham-Cassidy bill would have turned traditional Medicaid into a per capita cap, meaning millions who are enrolled in Medicaid would have had their care jeopardized. Medicaid disproportionately helps children, seniors in nursing home care and people with disabilities. A study by Avalere found that Graham-Cassidy would have cut funding for people with disabilities by 15-percent and 31-percent for children by 2036. 

More Than 35 Million Children’s Care Would Be Put At Risk. Millions of children are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP, whose care could be at risk because of the funding cuts in Graham-Cassidy. 

Cassidy’s Health Care Plan Raised Costs And Ended Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions 

Under Graham-Cassidy Premiums Would Have Increased 20 Percent in the First Year. According to the Congressional Budget Office, Graham-Cassidy included provisions that would have raised premiums up to 20 percent in the first year. 

Graham-Cassidy Would Have Raised Costs For People With Pre-Existing Conditions. Graham-Cassidy would have allowed states to let insurance companies once again charge people with pre-existing conditions more, which could have raised costs for more than 130 millions Americans that have a pre-existing condition. For example, an individual with asthma would face a premium surcharge of $4,340. The surcharge for pregnancy would be $17,320, while it would be $142,650 more for patients with metastatic cancer. 

People Over The Age of 50 Would Have Faced An “Age Tax.” The Graham-Cassidy bill would have allowed states to let insurers charge people over 50 high premiums without limits. AARP said, “The Graham/Cassidy/Heller/Johnson bill would result in an age tax for older Americans who would see their health care costs increase under this bill.” AARP estimates that 60-year-old Americans could have paid as much as $16,174 more in higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs in 2020. 

Bill Cassidy Is A Relentless Foe Of The Affordable Care Act

As A Member Of The House, Bill Cassidy Voted Against Initial Passage Of The Affordable Care Act And For More Than 50 Repeal Attempts. As a member of the House from 2009-2015, Bill Cassidy was a relentless opponent of the Affordable Care Act, including voting against initial passage of the law and voting for at least 50 Republican attempts to repeal or substantially alter the law. His anti-ACA record continued in the Senate, where he voted for legislation that gutted the Affordable Care Act by eliminating the insurance exchanges and subsidies, and repealing the Medicaid expansion accepted by 30 states in his first year in office. 

2017: Cassidy Voted For All Three Republican Attempts To Repeal The ACA, Endangering Care For Millions Of Americans. In July 2017, Bill Cassidy voted for all three Republican attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act – “Repeal and Delay,” the Better Care Reconciliation Act, and “Skinny” Repeal. All three would have had devastating impacts on Americans’ care, cutting millions off from coverage. 

• If “Repeal and Delay” had become law, 32 million fewer people would have had health insurance by 2026 and health insurance premiums would have doubled for those in the individual market.
• If BCRA had become law, it would have eliminated coverage for 15 million Americans in 2018 and increased individual premiums by 20 percent
• If “Skinny” repeal had become law, at least 15 million Americans would have lost coverage in 2018, the largest one year increase in US history, and premiums would have gone up by roughly 20 percent

2022: Cassidy’s Vote Against The Inflation Reduction Act, Was A Vote For Higher Health Insurance Premiums for Millions of Americans. Bill Cassidy joined every other Republican in Congress in voting against the Inflation Reduction Act. A record breaking 14.5 million Americans enrolled in an ACA marketplace plan in 2021. Right now, nearly 13 million people, or 89 percent with an ACA plan, are receiving enhanced premium tax credits, making their coverage affordable and accessible. The Inflation Reduction Act saves the average American family $2,400 a year and is extended through 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act ensures families pay no more than 8.5 percent of their income towards coverage. This helps middle and working class families facing excessive premiums or living in high-premium areas.

• Cassidy’s Vote Against The Inflation Reduction Act Was Also A Vote Against Expanding Coverage for Communities of Color. The Center on Budget Policy and Priorities estimates the increased savings continued under the Inflation Reduction Act will cause a sharp decline in the uninsured rate across every racial group, with one in three uninsured Black adults gaining coverage. Health coverage access is imperative to reducing racial disparities in health coverage across the nation and Bill Cassidy and every other Republican in Congress voted against it. 

Bill Cassidy Took Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars From Big Pharma And Opposed Efforts To Lower Prescription Drug Prices 

Bill Cassidy Voted To Block Medicare From Negotiating Lower Drug Prices. For nearly 20 years, Medicare has been banned from negotiating the price of prescription drugs for seniors, and Big Pharma has been able to dictate prices while Americans pay three times more for their medications than people in other countries. Bill Cassidy and every other Republican in Congress voted to leave that ban in place by voting against the Inflation Reduction Act. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare is empowered to negotiate prices for select drugs for Medicare Part D’s 49 million beneficiaries. 

Cassidy Opposed Capping Out-Of-Pocket Spending For Seniors. Bill Cassidy and every other Republican in Congress voted against helping the more than 1.4 million Medicare enrollees who paid more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs in 2020. Seniors with serious conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis will save thousands of dollars on prescriptions under the Inflation Reduction Act, which caps Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025. 

Cassidy Voted To Let Big Pharma Keep Raising Prices. The Inflation Reduction Act stops Big Pharma from raising Medicare drug prices faster than the rate of inflation beginning in 2023. For example, Humira, a medication commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, is one of the nation’s highest revenue generating drugs, raking in $21 billion in sales in 2019. AbbVie, Humira’s manufacturer, has hiked the price of Humira 27 times, including in January 2021 when it raised its cost by 7.4 percent. Over the past 20 years, price increases for brand-name drugs in Medicare Part D have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation.

Cassidy Has Taken Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars From The Pharmaceutical Industry. It is no wonder why Senator Cassidy voted against the Inflation Reduction Act and was so opposed to Build Back Better, which both included historic provisions to rein in pharmaceutical companies and lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans. Between 2017 and 2022, Cassidy received over $500,000 in contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. 

While President Biden and Democratic lawmakers fought hard to lower health care costs for Americans, Republicans were fighting to keep health care prices high, increase profits for Big Pharma, and pull one over on the American people going into election season. Now, after voting in unison against the Inflation Reduction Act, these same Republican lawmakers are scrambling to change their message and fight to raise health care costs. 

Protect Our Care is continuing to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act’s critical measures to drive down health care costs, reduce prescription drug prices, and combat racial disparities in care. This week, Protect Our Care is focusing on how the bill reduces health care premiums for 13 million families purchasing coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. More information on Protect Our Care’s Inflation Reduction Act theme weeks can be found here. 

Republicans Want Millions of Americans to Lose Access to Health Care. Through this legislation, Democratic lawmakers have continued to make sure that no individuals or families making under around $20,000 and $41,000 respectively will have to pay for any premiums. This has opened up the ACA marketplace to millions of low-income Americans and has allowed a record breaking 14.5 million people to have health care through open enrollment. Republicans have on the other hand released a plan that would raise premiums, end Medicaid as we know it, stop health care subsidies, and repeal not only the Inflation Reduction Act, but the American Rescue Plan and the Affordable Care Act. Just repealing the premium subsidies alone would cause over 3 million people to lose coverage entirely.

Republicans Voted For Increased Health Care Costs For Millions of Americans. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, passed by President Biden an Democratic lawmakers, the ACA saw an increase of subsidies lowering health care costs for over 13 million Americans. Previously, premiums would cost the average middle class family around 15 percent of their annual income, but these subsidies put a cap of 8.5 percent. The Inflation Reduction Act extended these subsidies through 2025, allowing Americans to continue saving on average $2,400 a year on health care premiums. Every Republican in Congress voted against extending these subsidies and some have vowed to continue the fight to take away these subsidies, thereby raising premiums by thousands for Americans.

Republicans Want Rural Americans to Pay More for Health Care. The subsidies continued under the Inflation Reduction Act allow over 65 percent of rural Americans to have access to zero dollar premium health coverage, and 76 percent are able to find a plan for less than $50 a month. This will work to significantly lower the economic divide between urban and rural Americans and give millions of people who desperately need it access to quality and affordable health care. Every Republican in Congress voted against this relief for rural Americans. 

Republicans Want to Increase Racial Inequities in Health Care. Racial disparities plague the health care system of the United States, but through the subsidies continued under the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden and Democratic lawmakers are taking steps to significantly reduce them. More than 65 percent of uninsured Black adults and 68 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults are eligible for zero dollar premium plans. An even greater 75 percent of uninsured Black adults and nearly 80 percent of uninsured Hispanic and Latino adults can access plans for less than $50 a month. Research shows that programs like this, which lower the barriers to access quality and affordable health care, are essential in reducing racial disparities in health. Republicans though would rather spend millions trying to get the Inflation Reduction Act repealed and those responsible for it out of office than allow for more families, no matter their background, to see their health care costs drop across the board. 

Republicans Want to Shut Down the Government Instead of Helping American Families. As Congress returns to session there is one thing on the minds of Republicans, repealing the Inflation Reduction Act, and they will do anything to accomplish this. Key leadership in the Republican Senate, like Rick Scott, have already threatened to shut the government down indefinitely until Biden repeals the Inflation Reduction Act. It doesn’t matter that shutting down the government will cost Americans billions of dollars or that if they succeed millions of Americans will see drastically higher premium rates or lose coverage entirely. Whose interests do Republican lawmakers really have in mind with their constant attempts at sabotaging the Inflation Reduction Act, because it certainly isn’t the American people?

As part of week two of the Inflation Reduction Act themed weeks, Protect Our Care is highlighting provisions in the bill that will directly benefit America’s seniors. Democrats in Congress have been working tirelessly to put money back in the pockets of American seniors by capping the price of insulin. The $35 cap will change the lives of the millions of insulin users on Medicare that no longer will have to decide between affording their medication or putting food on the table. Taking insulin, as prescribed, also reduces the likelihood of costly complications such as vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease.

Fast Facts:

• No Medicare beneficiary will pay more than $35 a month for insulin beginning  in 2023.
• 3.2 million insulin users on Medicare Part D will benefit from the $35 cap in 2023.
• Republicans in Congress blocked a universal insulin cap to help millions of Americans.

Makes Insulin Accessible And Affordable For Seniors. In 2020, there were more than 3.2 million insulin users on Medicare Part D, with nearly 1.7 million purchasing their insulin without low-income subsidies. On average, seniors with Medicare Part D who are not receiving subsidies pay an average of $572 every year for this life saving medication — an unthinkable sum for many on fixed incomes. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, insulin copays for seniors on Medicare will be capped at $35 each month starting in 2023. 

Affordable Insulin Directly Helps Minority And Rural Seniors. Minority Americans are disproportionately affected by diabetes when compared to their white counterparts with over 12 percent of Black adults and 11.8 percent of Hispanics being diagnosed with the disease. Black Americans also continue to be the hardest hit when it comes to affording their prescription drugs and paying medical bills. 

According to a 2018 study, rural Americans are 17 percent more likely to suffer from diabetes than urban Americans. Diabetes risk factors are higher in rural areas than their urban and suburban counterparts as they have less access to health care providers, fewer transportation options to receive care, and higher rates of being uninsured. 

These seniors are forced to stop taking their medication or cut doses in half. Diabetics suffer severe effects such as numbness in feet and nerve damage in the eyes when they stop taking doses as prescribed. Patients who suffer chronic complications can expect to pay upwards of an additional $650 per year. The insulin cap provision in the Inflation Reduction Act will vastly improve the lives of millions of older, minority, and rural insulin users.

Republicans Blocked Insulin Cap for Millions of Americans. In early August, as the final negotiations were being made on the Inflation Reduction Act, Republicans in the Senate unified together to make sure that the $35 insulin cap was not universal. In a country where 80 percent of diabetics have had to go into debt in order to pay for insulin, this type of action by Republicans reeks of the influence of Big Pharma. When addressing this at his rally on Thursday August 25th, President Joe Biden railed against the cowardice of elected Republicans and emphasized to the American people that the IRA would be just the beginning of his plans to reduce health care costs for all Americans. “These Republicans ripped that out of the bill, but we’re coming back.”

As part of week two of the Inflation Reduction Act themed weeks, Protect Our Care is highlighting provisions in the bill that will directly benefit America’s seniors. Democrats in Congress have been working tirelessly to put money back in the pockets of American seniors by capping out-of-pocket costs on prescription medicine. This spending cap will change the lives of the millions of seniors that no longer will have to decide between affording their medication or putting food on the table. 

Fast Facts:

• 49 million Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs capped at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025. 
• All Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have access to covered vaccines, such as Shingles and pneumonia, at no cost starting in 2023.
• No Medicare beneficiary will pay more than $35 a month for insulin beginning  in 2023.
• 49 million Medicare beneficiaries will no longer face Big Pharma’s outrageous price hikes that exceed inflation beginning in 2023 and will pay less for prescription drugs thanks to Medicare’s ability to negotiate prices.

Caps Out-Of-Pocket Spending For Seniors. Seniors with serious conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis will save thousands of dollars on prescriptions under the Inflation Reduction Act, which will help the more than 1.4 million Medicare enrollees who paid more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs in 2020. Medicare Part D out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be capped at $2,000 per year beginning in 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act also allows out-of-pocket spending to be smoothed over the course of the year beginning in 2025, so patients are not forced to pay the entirety of their out-of-pocket cost all at one time.  

Helps Millions Of Seniors Who Can’t Afford Their Prescriptions. The Inflation Reduction Act will help 3.5 million older Americans who have trouble affording their medication forcing them to skip doses or cut pills in half. Over the decade from 2009 to 2019, out-of-pocket spending for older Amerians rose by 41 percent. Seniors often have to sacrifice basic needs such as food or clothing to be able to afford their prescriptions due to rising costs. The Inflation Reduction Act will help older Americans who are Medicare beneficiaries by capping their out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 per year starting in 2025. These seniors will no longer have to choose between life saving prescription drugs and other basic necessities.

As part of week two of the Inflation Reduction Act themed weeks, Protect Our Care is highlighting provisions in the bill that will directly benefit America’s seniors. Democrats in Congress have been working tirelessly to put money back in the pockets of American seniors by giving Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices. Thanks to this key provision, seniors will no longer have to choose between paying for the drugs they need and other essentials like food and housing.

Fast Facts:

• The cost of 80 of the most expensive prescription drugs will be reduced because Medicare has the power to negotiate.
• 49 million Medicare beneficiaries will no longer face Big Pharma’s outrageous price hikes that exceed inflation beginning in 2023.
• All Medicare Part D beneficiaries will have access to covered vaccines, such as Shingles and pneumonia, at no cost starting in 2023, insulin price capped at $35 per month, and a $2,000 out-of-pocket price cap on prescription drugs per year.

Gives Medicare The Power To Negotiate Lower Drug Prices. Seniors are disproportionately impacted by high prescription drug costs, with nearly one in four seniors struggling to access the medication they need. Half of all Medicare beneficiaries live on annual incomes below $29,650. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare will be empowered to negotiate prices for select drugs for Medicare Part D’s 49 million beneficiaries. Beginning in 2026, 10 drugs will be negotiated with that number increasing to 15 drugs in 2027, and 20 drugs in 2029 and into the future. By 2030, more than 80 drugs will be eligible for Medicare price negotiation, in addition to insulin products. 

Stops Outrageous Price Increases. The cost of prescription drugs has forced more than one in five seniors not to take medication as prescribed. This has serious health implications for seniors, with 22 percent reporting their health condition worsened as a result. Medicare drug price negotiation could create pressure to decrease commercial prescription prices for the general public as well.

Medicare Price Negotiation Is Widely Supported. A Data For Progress Poll finds an overwhelming majority of Americans from all political stripes strongly back drug price negotiation. 83 percent of likely voters support giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, including support from 86 percent of Democrats, 81 percent of independents, and, perhaps most critically, 81 percent of Republican voters. Medicare drug price negotiation has repeatedly been proven to be the most popular policy in the entire bill.

…Again

During the first week of the Inflation Reduction Act theme weeks, Protect Our Care has highlighted Republican lawmakers for their vote against lowering health care and prescription drug costs in the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Republican strategists, dark money groups and serial ACA opponents are now backing a lawsuit seeking to destroy critical health care protections for millions through Kelley v. Becerra, a lawsuit to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 

The ongoing litigation in Kelley v Becerra has the potential to singlehandedly strip one of the ACA of its most influential and important aspects, its guaranteed no-cost benefits. The over 63 million women alone who have free birth control due to the ACA’s guaranteed free contraception, over a dozen vaccinations which are provided to the public free of charge (including the flu, whooping cough, and measles which has recently had a resurgence in the American populace), and the numerous free screenings from cancer to infant child care are all now at risk. Republicans know that trying to legislate away these policies led to a popular backlash costing them vital seats in Congress, so they’ve moved back to their strategy of throwing lawsuit after lawsuit to strip the ACA of its teeth. Read more about Kelley v. Becerra here. 

Republican Mega Donors Lead the Charge Against the ACA. John Kelley, one of the plaintiffs in Kelley v Becerra isn’t a newcomer to the Republican war on affordable health care. His first foray into this fight was the 2019 lawsuit against the ACA’s contraceptive mandate DeOtte v. Azar. Long-time GOP mega donor, 2020 election denier, and wannabe musician, Steven Hotze, is another plaintiff in this case who not only was also a part of DeOtte v. Azar, but has brought and lost multiple other parts of the ACA.  

Republican Policymakers and Dark Money Groups Are Behind Kelley v. Becerra. The blatant partisanship doesn’t end with the plaintiffs. The lead attorney for the plaintiffs, John Mitchell, also just happens to be one of the main authors of the far-right Texas vigilante law essentially banning abortion through the state. He has also filed a brief explicitly advocating for the Supreme Court to overrule its Obergefell v. Hodges, which enshrined marriage equality as a right. Meanwhile in the background, the entire plaintiffs’ case is being funded and represented by the America First Legal Foundation, a Trump-aligned group with its advisory board consisting of Trump cabinet members like white nationalist Stephen Miller, the architect of the Trump administration’s harshest immigration policies and a supporter of the forced sterilizations committed by ICE in Georgia. 

The Core of the ACA is at Stake. The ACA secures access to and provides a wide range of services to everyday Americans. Over 63 million people currently do not pay for contraception, which is a project of the ACA, saving them nearly $1.4 billion in just the first year the ACA was implemented alone. Another ACA requirement gives pregnant people access to recommended prenatal care, including no-cost preeclampsia screenings and folic acid, to help assist in a healthy pregnancy. Health insurance companies are also required to cover screenings for breast, lung, cervical, and colorectal cancers, hepatitis B and C, heart disease, hypertension, osteoporosis, in addition to others. Over a dozen vaccinations for both adults and children that Americans have gotten used to being free, through coverage without cost-sharing, is also due to critical ACA requirements, providing a vital public health measure in the fight against everything from COVID to polio. Fighting the HIV epidemic is a main priority of the ACA and as such it guarantees access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that is proven to reduce the risk of contracting HIV by 99 percent. If this lawsuit succeeds, all of these benefits would disappear in an instant and the Republican project aiming to force Americans into undue debt, stress, and death due to exorbitant medical costs will be one step closer to being realized.

Republicans Will Throw Out Everything Including the Kitchen Sink to Make Sure Americans Can’t Get Affordable Health Care

As part of the first week of the Inflation Reduction Act theme weeks, Protect Our Care has dug into the records of GOP members in the House and Senate who are continuing to fight tooth and nail to take away Americans’ access to quality and affordable health care. Every single Republican in the House of Representatives voted against the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and every single Republican in the House of Representatives is also up for reelection in November.

Republicans Seek to Repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. House Republicans led by Texas Representative Chip Roy are falling in line to support the full repeal of the Inflation Reduction Act the moment they retake control of the House. All of this while Republican leadership knows that this same type of messaging is what led to disastrous Republican defeats after they failed to repeal the ACA. It doesn’t matter that the Inflation Reduction Act has a vast supermajority of popular support and will lower health care costs for millions of Americans. All that matters to Republicans is that they get one over on Democrats, even if it is in spite of the people they are supposed to represent.

Republicans Threaten to Shut Down the Government to Keep Drug Prices High. Over 80 percent of Americans support capping out of pocket drug costs for seniors. Over 75 percent of Americans support Medicare having negotiating powers to lower prescription drug costs. Yet the Republican Party led by House member Scott Perry would rather shut down the federal government and cost taxpayers billions than allow for Americans to have access to affordable medications. So much for being fiscally conservative.

Republicans Support Ending the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid. House Republicans are lining up behind a plan by Senator Rick Scott to sunset all federal legislation within five years. Already vocal members of the House like Matt Gaetz have publicly backed this plan which would put in jeopardy not just the Inflation Reduction Act, but the ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid. This ambitious project to rip away from Americans the vital quality and affordable health care they need is just another example of the tantrum being thrown by elected Republicans.

Republicans Continue to Complain but Do Nothing. It doesn’t matter if you are a part of Republican House leadership or if you’re a freshman congressperson, the game plan is all the same: fight everything kicking and screaming but then complain when things aren’t getting done. Republicans have made inflation one of their top talking points going into this election, yet every single one voted against legislation experts say will significantly reduce inflation. House Republicans don’t support reducing inflation. House Republicans don’t support lowering prescription drug costs (even when they vocally supported it before). House Republicans don’t support tax credits to lower health care costs. What is it House Republicans even do support?

While On Luxury Yacht Vacation In Italy, There Is No Doubt Scott Is Dreaming Up Ways To Raise Health Care Costs

As part of GOP Accountability Week, week one of the Inflation Reduction Act theme weeks, Protect Our Care is highlighting Republican lawmakers that are fighting against reforms to lower health care costs for the American people. Every Republican in the House and Senate opted to keep drug prices high and charge millions of Americans more for health care by voting against the bill. 

Senator Scott is among the most egregious offenders when it comes to attacking American health care. As chair of the NRSC, Senator Scott proposed an 11 point Republican plan that would sunset all federal legislation in five years. Not only would the Rick Scott plan put the Affordable Care Act in grave danger, but it threatens every federal health program, including Medicare and Medicaid. In total, tens of millions of Americans could face complete coverage loss. Senator Scott has also announced a government shutdown to roll back the popular Inflation Reduction Act effectively making Americans pay more for their health care and prescriptions. 

Senator Scott Voted Against The Inflation Reduction Act. Alongside all of his Republican colleagues, Rick Scott voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, the most significant piece of healthcare legislation since the passage of the ACA. The bill extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2025 and drives down prescription drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate, capping seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for drugs at $2,000 per year, limiting insulin costs, and stopping Big Pharma’s egregious price hikes. This ‘no’ vote comes on the heels of Scott’s refusal to support the American Rescue Plan, historic legislation which provided measures to expand coverage and to dramatically lower health care costs for thousands of Florida families. In addition to providing critical pandemic relief, the ARP lowered premiums for people purchasing coverage through the marketplaces and expanded access to financial assistance for more middle-class families.

Rick Scott’s Plan For America Would “Sunset” The Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid. The latest in Rick Scott’s attempts to restrict health care include a proposed plan to end the ACA altogether. As chair of the NRSC, Senator Scott proposed an 11 point Republican plan that would sunset all federal legislation in five years. Not only would the Rick Scott plan put the Affordable Care Act in grave danger, but it threatens every federal health program, including Medicare and Medicaid. When asked about the ACA’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions, Scott stated, “I don’t believe in grand bargains…We’ve got to reward people for caring for themselves.” As Governor of Florida, Rick Scott refused Medicaid expansion that would cover 833,000 Floridians and attempted to make it more difficult for Floridians to sign up for Medicaid, suggesting a reduction in the amount of time individuals have to enroll from 90 to 30 days. Scott isn’t alone in his support for this radical plan. The following Republicans have publicly supported the plan: Senator Ron Johnson, RNC Chairwoman Rona McDaniel, Senator Mike Braun, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Tommy Tuberville, Congressman Matt Gaetz, and Senator Joni Ernst.     

Rick Scott Is Threatening A Government Shutdown To Force Americans To Pay More For Prescription Drugs And Health Care. On an Actualidad Radio show on August 17, Scott said that if Republicans take control of the Senate in November they could pass their own reconciliation bill and shut down the government to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act. It is unlikely that a Republican reconciliation bill to unravel the Democrats’ bill would overcome a veto by President Biden. The Inflation Reduction Act is incredibly popular among the American public. Two in three Americans support the legislation with health care provisions to lower the cost of insurance and prescription drug prices being the most popular policies in the bill.

Senator Scott Is In The Pocket Of Big Pharma. It is no wonder why Senator Scott is so opposed to efforts to rein in pharmaceutical companies and lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans. Since taking office in 2019, Rick Scott has received $109,430 in contributions from pharmaceutical PACs and executives. 

As part of week one of the Inflation Reduction Act themed weeks, Protect Our Care is highlighting GOP lawmakers that are fighting against reforms to lower health care costs for the American people. Senator Ron Johnson’s record on health care is as abysmal as it comes, and it disqualifies him for another term in the U.S. Senate. 

Over the years, Ron Johnson voted to rip health care coverage from 416,600 Wisconsinites and strip protections from 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions, and he still thinks that Republicans should repeal the ACA if they’re given power again. His latest rantings include stripping mandatory funding for essential government programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. Senator Johnson voted against the Inflation Reduction Act which lowers drug prices and expands coverage — policies that are supported by Wisconsonites from all walks of life. Republicans like Senator Johnson are completely out of touch with the economic and health worries that keep families up at night as they continue to put industry profits ahead of their constituents. Wisconsin voters are sick and tired of Ron Johnson’s dangerous antics.

Blocking Health Care And Relief for Wisconsinites

Senator Johnson Voted Against The Inflation Reduction Act. Alongside all of his Republican colleagues, Ron Johnson voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, the most significant piece of healthcare legislation since the passage of the ACA. The bill extends enhanced premium tax credits through 2025 and drives down prescription drug prices by giving Medicare the power to negotiate, capping seniors’ out-of-pocket costs for drugs at $2,000 per year, limiting insulin costs, and stopping Big Pharma’s egregious price hikes. Johnson even went out of his way to strip out a critical health care provision of the Inflation Reduction Act, which would have capped insulin at $35 a month for millions of diabetics with private insurance. This ‘no’ vote comes on the heels of Johnson’s refusal to support the American Rescue Plan, historic legislation which provided measures to expand coverage and to dramatically lower health care costs for thousands of Wisconsin families. In addition to providing critical pandemic relief, the ARP lowered premiums for people purchasing coverage through the marketplaces and expanded access to financial assistance for more middle-class families. 

Senator Johnson Still Wants To Repeal The ACA. As recently as March of this year Ron Johnson said that if Republicans control Congress and the White House in 2024, they’re going to repeal the ACA. According to Johnson, “If we’re going to repeal and replace Obamacare — I still think we need to fix our health-care system — we need to have the plan ahead of time so that once we get in office, we can implement it immediately, not knock around like we did last time and fail,” Johnson also supports Senator Rick Scott’s disastrous plan that would “sunset” the ACA, Medicare, Social Security and other vital federal health laws every five years. And after Republicans could not muster the votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017, Senator Johnson said he remained hopeful that the Cassidy-Graham-Heller-Johnson bill would pass even after the rest of the GOP conceded defeat. 

Senator Johnson Is Fighting To End Medicare, Medicaid, and The Affordable Care Act. In August of 2022, Johnson built off a proposal originally put forth by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to sunset all federal programs every five years, by suggesting that Medicare funding should be solely discretionary and approved by Congress on a yearly basis. Appearing to support ending the Medicare program to reduce the national deficit, Johnson said,  “If you qualify for the entitlement, you just get it no matter what the cost [a]nd our problem in this country is that more than 70 percent of our federal budget, of our federal spending, is all mandatory spending…What we ought to be doing is we ought to turn everything into discretionary spending…” This is a continuation of Johnson’s outlandish proposals to upend American health care. In 2017, Senator Johnson claimed that Medicaid expansion put at risk “traditional Medicaid for the elderly, disabled and children.” The real threat to traditional Medicaid existed in the years-long Republican repeal efforts which worked to gut the program and turn it into a “per capita” program. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found the Senate repeal bill Johnson backed would have cut Medicaid by $756 billion over the following decade, and another estimate found it would have cut Medicaid by more than $2 trillion over the following 20 years, or more than one-third. 

Senator Johnson Is A Leader In Efforts To Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In 2017, Senator Johnson co-sponsored the Cassdiy-Graham-Heller-Johnson bill which would have repealed the Affordable Care Act, and was widely considered to be the worst of the repeal efforts. Had Senator Johnson been successful, his bill would have dismantled Medicaid expansion, eliminated the Affordable Care Act tax credits, capped and cut Medicaid funding — permanently transforming the program into a per capita program, and caused millions of Americans to lose coverage and protections for pre-existing conditions. 

Senator Johnson’s Reckless Policies Are A Threat To Wisconsinites. Senator Johnson repeatedly voted to rip coverage from 416,600 Wisconsinites who gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act. His actions would have also stripped protections from 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions.

Senator Johnson Has Been Front And Center On The Most Outlandish ACA Attacks. In 2014, Senator Ron Johnson filed a lawsuit challenging a rule allowing lawmakers and their staff to continue to receive a government contribution toward premiums, but only if they enroll in a specific ACA plan. The Justice Department asked that the lawsuit be dismissed due to the fact Johnson was not “directly injured” by the regulation and therefore had no legal standing to sue. Johnson continued with the suit despite pleas from the Republican delegation in his own state to stop the scarade. Johnson also disclosed that he was planning to use his campaign account to raise funds for the suit, clearly demonstrating the political motive driving his actions. 

Senator Johnson Prioritized Eliminating Protections For People With Pre-Existing Conditions. Senator Johnson was determined to eliminate one of the most popular aspects of the Affordable Care Act — its protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions — arguing insurance companies should not be forced to cover people regardless of their health status. Johnson even went so far as to claim covering individuals with pre-existing conditions would collapse the health care system, stating, “We know what caused premiums to increase…th[e] guaranteed issue [of health insurance] collapses markets.”

Senator Johnson Is In The Pocket Of Big Pharma. It is no wonder why Senator Johnson is so opposed to efforts to rein in pharmaceutical companies and lower the cost of prescription drugs for millions of Americans. Since taking office in 2011, Ron Johnson has received $270,244 in contributions from pharmaceutical PACs and executives. 

Senator Johnson Tried To Blame The Opioid Crisis On The Affordable Care Act. Stooping to a new low, Senator Johnson claimed that Medicaid expansion created the opioid epidemic. Despite the fact that the CDC declared the opioid crisis an epidemic in 2011, three years prior to Medicaid expansion, Johnson attempted to draw a nonexistent connection between affordable health care and increased substance abuse.

Lowering costs and expanding affordable insurance coverage is critical to achieving health equity for  LGBT+ Americans. Barriers to quality and consistent care such as poverty and discrimination make it difficult for LGBT+ individuals to access health care and afford prescription medications. While the Biden Administration has prioritized improving LGBT+ care, Republicans in state legislatures continue to undermine LGBT+ rights by fighting access to gender affirming care, banning LGBT+ representation in schools, and other measures to discriminate against LGBT+ youth. Improving access to care and protecting LGBT+ individuals from health care discrimination are essential for improving the health and well being of LGBT+ Americans nationwide.

The Biden Administration Has Prioritized Improving LGBT+ Care

Expanding Health Coverage For Millions Of Americans. Premium subsidies made available by the American Rescue Plan helped nearly 210,000 LGBT+ enrollees have access to zero-premium plan. Nationwide, 20 percent of Black LGBT+ individuals are uninsured, compared to 15 percent of Black heterosexual and cisgender individuals and 9 percent of white counterparts. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, nearly 3 million uninsured adults received premium tax credits and a record 14.5 million consumers signed up for health care on the marketplace.

Reversing Trump Policy Allowing Sexual Orientation Discrimination. In May 2021, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announced that sexual orientation would be restored as a protected class under the Affordable Care Act. This protects sexual orientation and gender identity from health care discrimination, ensuring that LGBT+ inidividuals aren’t denied coverage or charged more for care. This reversal has been especially important with transgender rights being attacked by state-level Republicans. 

Protecting Transgender Youth. The Biden Administration is focusing on providing mental health support, creating a more welcoming environment in public schools, and acknowledging the positive impacts of gender affirming care. In honor of Transgender Visibility Day in March 2022, the Justice Department issuing a letter to all state attorneys genera reinforcing federal transgender youth protections against discrimination and obtaining gender affirming care l. The Department of State also enacted gender affirming markers on passports by adding “X” to be selected instead of the binary “F” or “M.” 

Republican Have Intensified Attacks On LGBT+ Care

Gov. DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Early this year, Gov. DeSantis signed the Parental Rights In Education bill, otherwise dubbed as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This bill prohibits teachers or school personnel from classroom discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity for kindergarten through third grade. In the face of opposition, Gov. DeSantis has said that teaching children about LGBT+ rights is “inappropriate” and is “not something that’s appropriate for any place, but especially not in Florida.” 

Gov. Abbott’s Transgender Child Abuse Order. Gov. Abbott ordered Texas child welfare investigators to launch child abuse investigations into reports of transgender children receiving gender-affirming care. He went one step further in calling for members of the general public and “licensed professionals” to report parents of transgender youth to be investigated. Gov. Abbott’s order was following an opinion by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that allowing minors to receive transition care such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery is child abuse under state law. 

Republican Anti-LGBT+ Bills Sweep The Nation. As of late March 2022, 166 anti-LGBT+ bills are pending in state legislatures. Roughly 75 of these new bills restrict classroom discussions or books featuring LGBT+ issues or representation from public schools; nearly 50 bills attempt to ban transgender youth from playing sports that align with their gender identity; and at least 29 bills seek to ban gender affirming medical care. These bills have become especially prevalent as the GOP seeks to energize its base before the 2022 midterm elections. 

Improving Health Care Access Is Essential for LGBT+ Americans

LGBT+ Americans Suffer From High Prescription Drug Prices

Protecting LGBT+ Americans From Outrageous Price Increases. 21.6 percent of the LGBT+ community lives in poverty and nearly half of transgender people have postponed or skipped care due to cost. A 2018 study by the UCLA Williams Institute School of Law found that 15 percent of gay men and women delayed or went without medication in the past year. LGBT+ individuals have an increased risk of diabetes due to inequities in quality of health care. 

Closing The Medicaid Coverage Gap Would Help Low Income LGBT Americans Gain Coverage

Closing The Coverage Gap Improves Outcomes For LGBT+ Individuals. According to a Center for American Progress survey, in 2019, the LGBT+ uninsured rate was 20 percent in holdout states, compared to 8 percent in states that adopted Medicaid expansion. 29 percent of LGBT+ individuals faced difficulty seeking medical care when sick or injured due to cost. LGBT+ Americans are twice as likely to be without health insurance. 

Medicaid Drastically Reduces Disparities. Closing the Medicaid coverage gap is the single most important policy to expand coverage and reduce racial inequities in the American health care system. A 2021 study found that more Black LGBT+ adults had Medicaid as their primary insurance compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. 

Expanding Home And Community-Based Services Would Help Older LGBT Americans

Millions of LGBT+ Americans To Grow Old At Home. Federally provided home and community-based services funds helped more than 100,000 individuals return to their homes and communities from nursing facilities between 2008 and 2019. Allowing LGBT+ seniors to grow old at home helps alleviate the concern older LGBT+ adults have about being neglected, abused, or face discrimination in nursing home or assisted living facilities.