Report

Washington, DC — Protect Our Care is releasing a new report that highlights the urgent need for Congress to protect and expand women’s access to health care in the wake of the Supreme Court’s elimination of the constitutional right to an abortion. The report lays out the dire consequences for women of childbearing age and their families if Congress fails to make the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits permanent and close the Medicaid coverage gap. 

While abortion rights have long been at the center of the Republican war on health care, the GOP has also opposed meaningful measures to expand health care access by refusing to close the Medicaid coverage gap and opposing measures to drive down health care costs. With the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits set to expire later this year, it has never been more urgent for Congress to prevent premium hikes and extend affordable coverage to mitigate some of the worst impacts of the Supreme Court decision.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has made it even more urgent for Congress to expand Medicaid and extend the American Rescue Plan’s premium tax credits, ensuring women and their children have access to essential health care,” said Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach. “The officials attacking women’s rights are the same people who oppose Medicaid expansion, refuse to support measures to improve health outcomes for mothers and their children, and fight common sense reforms to lower health care costs.”

KEY POINTS

• Closing the Coverage Gap Essential to Protect Mothers and Families. Many of the states moving to take away the right to an abortion are the same states whose Republican governors or state legislatures have refused to expand Medicaid. Failure to expand Medicaid has left women and children without the health care they need. There are 2.2 million uninsured people below the poverty line who live in Medicaid coverage gap states, and more than 800,000 are women of reproductive age. 
• If Congress Fails To Act, Millions Of Women & Children Will Lose Coverage. More than 3 million people will become uninsured if the American Rescue Plan’s enhanced premium tax credits expire — increasing the number of uninsured Americans by 11 percent. When women become uninsured, they lose the guaranteed protections of the ACA, including access to free contraceptives, cancer screenings (including breast and cervical cancer), and well woman visits. When women lose their health insurance, their children also become uninsured, including young adults who are able to remain on a parent’s insurance until 26. 

Read the full report here. 

Report Outlines Steps to Improve Women’s Health Care Access as Supreme Court Weighs Fate of Abortion Rights 

Read the Full Report Here

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new report outlining urgent measures to improve women’s health care access as the nation faces a crisis for abortion rights. In the coming weeks, right-wing Justices on the Supreme Court are expected to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, opening the floodgates for states to ban abortion. Abortion has long been at the center of the Republican war on women’s health, but the GOP has also spent years eroding women’s access to other types of care. Between attacking the Affordable Care Act’s protections for women to blocking legislation to fight maternal mortality, Republicans have only made it harder for women to obtain essential care. Now, with the pending court decision, strengthening and protecting women’s access to care is paramount. 

In addition to working tirelessly to protect abortion rights, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are fighting to safeguard contraception and equal insurance coverage, end the maternal mortality crisis, and expand Medicaid coverage to ensure women can get the health care they need. With abortion rights are under the greatest threat in more than 50 years, passing these health care reforms will help mitigate some of the devastation caused by the radical justices and their Republican allies. 

“The GOP’s longstanding war on women’s health care has never been more damaging,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Maternal mortality is on the rise, millions of women are struggling to afford essential care, and now basic health care rights are under attack. The Republican lawmakers seeking to ban abortions are the same people who have sabotaged access to contraception, refused to address the maternal mortality crisis, and opposed Medicaid expansion and other common sense reforms to lower the cost of health care for working families. Every woman in this country deserves affordable, quality health care – including full access to reproductive health – and any lawmaker fighting reforms to expand coverage and improve care has no regard for human life at all.” 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 19 AT 3:00 PM ET***

New Report Shows Impact to Health Coverage Affordability in Florida if Congress Fails to Make the Premium Tax Credits in the American Rescue Plan Permanent

St. Petersburg, FL— Today, May 19, 2022 at 3:00 PM ET, U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-FL-13) and health care experts will join Protect Our Care Florida to discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan have made health coverage more affordable for Floridians. These premium tax credits dramatically lowered the cost of health care coverage for 2.6 million Floridians. 

The new report highlights recent studies showing that more than three million people – including 513,000 Floridians – could lose their coverage if Congress fails to make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent. The American Rescue Plan saved families thousands of dollars on their premiums, but the expanded tax credits that powered those savings will expire at the end of 2022, and as a result, premiums for next year’s plans will rise dramatically for millions who buy insurance on their own. Only Congress can prevent this from happening; it’s time to extend the ACA premium tax credits to ensure that hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need. 

PRESS CALL:

WHO:
Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL-13)
Jodi Ray, Program Director of Florida Covering Kids & Families USF Health
Rory Noonan, Student

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 3:00 PM ET

WHERE: Register For the Event Here 

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY, MAY 19 AT 11:00 AM ET***

New Report Shows Impact to Health Coverage Affordability in West Virginia if Congress Fails to Make the Premium Tax Credits in the American Rescue Plan Permanent

West Virginia — Today, May 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET, West Virginia Delegate Shawn Fluharty, health care advocates, and storytellers will join Protect Our Care West Virginia to discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan have made health coverage more affordable for West Virginians. These premium tax credits dramatically lowered the cost of health care coverage for 21,594 West Virginians. Advocates in West Virginia also sent a letter to Senator Manchin highlighting what’s at stake for coverage affordability for West Virginians if Congress fails to extend the tax credits this year. 

The new report highlights recent studies showing that more than three million people – including 7,000 West Virginians – could lose their coverage if Congress fails to make these enhanced premium tax credits permanent. The American Rescue Plan saved families thousands of dollars on their premiums, but the expanded tax credits that powered those savings will expire at the end of 2022, and as a result, premiums for next year’s plans will rise dramatically for millions who buy insurance on their own. Only Congress can prevent this from happening; it’s time to extend the ACA premium tax credits to ensure that hardworking families can continue to access the health care they need. 

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE:

WHO:
Delegate Shawn Fluharty
Dr. Jessica Ice, West Virginians for Affordable Healthcare
Ryan Frankenberry, West Virginia Working Families Party
Lynette Maselli, Protect Our Care West Virginia     

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHEN: Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET

WHERE: Register For the Event Here

***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUESDAY, MAY 10 AT 1:00 PM ET***

Speakers To Discuss Affordable Insulin Now Act and New Report Showing Impact of Health Coverage Affordability in Ohio if Congress Fails To Make the Premium Tax Credits Included in the American Rescue Plan Permanent  

Toledo, OH — Today, May 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09) and Ohio health care leaders will join Protect Our Care Ohio to discuss the urgent importance of and opportunities to lower health care costs for Ohioans. They will highlight the importance of lowering insulin costs by passing the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Kaptur. Additionally, they will discuss a new report that shows the premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan have made health coverage more affordable for Ohioans. The report also lays out the dire consequences if Congress fails to make the credits permanent – including that more than three million people, including 63,000 Ohioans, could lose their coverage.

VIRTUAL EVENT
WHO:
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09)
Samuel Camacho, Certified Navigator, Affordable Care Act, UHCAN Ohio
John Kennedy, a type-1 diabetic and advocate for Ohio Insulin4All

WHAT: Virtual Press Conference 

WHEN: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 1:00 PM ET

WHERE: Register For the Event Here

ARP Delivered Jobs, Tools to Tame the Pandemic, and Affordable Health Care for the American People

Read the full report here.

Washington, DC — This week marks the one-year anniversary of President Biden signing the American Rescue Plan into law, and Protect Our Care is releasing a new report outlining the impact of its critical provisions. The American Rescue Plan has been the cornerstone of the nation’s COVID-19 recovery, providing funding for vaccination distribution, resources to local communities, and direct relief to families. As a result, the law reopened schools and businesses, and allowed millions of Americans to safely get back to work. Additionally, the American Rescue Plan included measures to make health care premiums more affordable than ever before, resulting in millions of Americans gaining health care coverage. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement: 

“Thanks to President Biden and Congressional Democrats, the American Rescue Plan fueled the greatest economic recovery in the history of this country. By delivering billions in state and local aid and robust funding for vaccine distribution, we have been able to keep schools and businesses open while protecting families and workers. With historic job growth and more Americans getting vaccinated and boosted, we are still seeing the impact of the American Rescue Plan every day. The anniversary of the American Rescue Plan serves as an important reminder of who is working for the American people and who is working against us. We can’t lose sight of the fact that, while President Biden and Democrats have worked tirelessly to put an end to this crisis, Republicans have done everything in their power to slow our recovery and make the pandemic worse for their political gain — as evidenced  by not a single Republican voting for this vital legislation.”

The Momnibus Act Is Needed Now More Than Ever As Newly Released Data Shows Maternal Mortality Disparities Worsened in 2020

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new report in response to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics, revealing that the U.S. maternal mortality rate jumped from 20.1 per 100,000 live births in 2019 to 23.8 in 2020. This increase was primarily driven by disproportionate mortality rates among Black mothers. In 2020, the maternal mortality rate for Black women (55.3 per 100,000) was three times higher than the rate for white women (19.1 per 100,000) in 2020. The Momnibus Act, championed by Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14), includes critical investments to help address the systemic causes of the nation’s high maternal mortality rate. In response, Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach issued the following statement:

“It is unfathomable that in the wealthiest nation on earth, our mothers are dying from  preventable causes. The racial disparities in maternal mortality have been exacerbated by the pandemic, and the latest data confirms that this crisis is only getting worse without meaningful intervention. The Momnibus Act is a critical step toward ending the maternal mortality crisis and improving the health and well-being of mothers and babies. The Momnibus provisions have broad, bipartisan support, and Congress should do everything in its power to pass this legislation.”

KEY POINTS:

• The United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of the industrialized world. Women in the United States suffer from maternal mortality at a rate twice that of other industrialized nations, with health outcomes worsening over the last two decades. In 2020, the maternal mortality rate in the United States rose to 861 deaths, up from 754 in 2019.
• Women of color are acutely impacted by the maternal mortality crisis. Systemic racism and its direct impacts on the health care system, create dangerous and deadly outcomes for women of color, particularly Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women. The racial disparities in maternal health between Black and white women are at the same rate recorded in the 1940s.
• The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act investments will provide funding to address the root causes of maternal mortality. The Momnibus will provide funding to address social determinants of health, invest in health equity research and practices, and provide health care workers with the necessary tools to confront discriminatory and biased practices.

Read the full report here. 

Report Exposes Lies and Front Groups Pushed By Big Pharma and Their Republican Allies as Democrats Work to Pass Build Back Better Act

Washington, DC — Today, Protect Our Care is releasing a new report exposing Big Pharma’s campaign of lies and front groups as part of an effort to maintain the status quo that allows drug companies to dictate profits while millions struggle to afford their prescriptions. As Congress is on the cusp of passing the historic Build Back Better Act, Big Pharma is spending millions on their K Street lobbyists and advertisements to block its key provisions that bring down drug prices. With the help of their Republican allies, drug companies have been relentless in their efforts to spread lies about the Democrats’ plan to lower drug prices for working families as part of the Build Back Better Act. 

“Democrats in Congress reached a historic agreement to lower prescription drug prices for all Americans through the Build Back Better Act and Big Pharma is running scared,” said Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse. “Fortunately, the American people remain unswayed, with poll after poll showing that policies to reduce drug costs are the most popular provisions in the entire Build Back Better Act. With the support of voters of all parties, President Biden and Democrats in Congress are committed to reining in Big Pharma’s greed and delivering real relief to millions of families. It’s time to put an end to Big Pharma’s greed and give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices.”

Read the new report on Big Pharma’s campaign of front groups and lies on drug pricing here.

Commonwealth Analysis Says Millions Would Benefit from ACA Enhancements and Closing Medicaid Coverage Gap

Washington, D.C. — As Democrats in Congress work to include key health care priorities in upcoming budget legislation, the Commonwealth Fund released a new report showing that seven million Americans would gain coverage by passing ACA enhancements and closing the Medicaid coverage gap. Every single state would see a drop in their uninsured population, with the most significant declines in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid, and premiums on the ACA marketplaces would fall by an average 18 percent. In response, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued the following statement:

“Under the leadership of President Biden, Democrats are working tirelessly to lower costs and strengthen health care for every American. This fall, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the lives of millions by giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, closing the Medicaid coverage gap, expanding Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing, and further reducing health care premiums for families purchasing coverage through the ACA. The Commonwealth Fund report shines a bright light on the sweeping impact just a handful of these policies can have. It is imperative that lawmakers work quickly to pass all of these health reforms to ensure healthcare is a right for every American.” 

Some Highlights From The Report:

• Making ARPA premium subsidies permanent and filling the Medicaid coverage gap would reduce the number of people without insurance by nearly one-quarter, or 7.0 million people, in 2022.
• All states would see a drop in their uninsured population, with the largest percentage declines in states that have not yet expanded Medicaid eligibility.
• Enrollment in subsidized marketplace plans would nearly double, while premiums would fall by 18 percent on average.