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.