Today, as Govs. Matt Bevin and Phil Bryant and former senator Rick Santorum announced the latest iteration of the GOP’s plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act at the Hoover Institution, they were greeted by health care advocates demanding they stop their attacks on Americans’ care. Protect Our Care Campaign Director Brad Woodhouse released the following statement:
“The GOP just doesn’t get it. Today, Washington Republicans – with the help of two governors who have actively worked to prevent their constituents from obtaining health care coverage – announced the latest version of health care repeal that was firmly rejected last year. No matter how they try to spin it, it contains the same devastating provisions: it would gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions, impose an age tax on older Americans, and end Medicaid expansion. Enough is enough – it’s time for the GOP to end its war on our health care.”
Among other things, Graham-Cassidy 2.0 would:
- Gut protections for pre-existing conditions, forcing people to choose between bankruptcy and staying alive;
- Let insurance companies charge older people an age tax;
- Let insurance companies could deny coverage for ‘essential health benefits,’ such as maternity care, prescription drug coverage, and treatment for substance use disorders;
- End Medicaid expansion;
- Take away coverage from millions, driving up the uninsured rate; and
- Give the wealthiest yet another tax break. while ending tax credits for while middle-income Americans
What are Bevin, Bryant and Santorum’s health records?
Matt Bevin Has Threatened to Take Health Care From 500,000 Kentuckians If Courts Strike Down His Work Requirements. “Attorneys for Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) will tell a federal court this Friday that that the governor plans to take his ball and go home if he can’t get his way on Medicaid work requirements, premiums, and other restrictions. Bevin, who campaigned on ending the Medicaid expansion but backed down from that threat once elected, is now arguing that he will scrap the state’s Medicaid expansion if the controversial new rules are struck down by federal courts. Kentucky was the first state in the nation to win permission from the Trump administration to impose the new Medicaid rules, which are expected to throw nearly 100,000 Kentuckians off the program. With at least a dozen other states looking to adopt their own Medicaid work requirements, the outcome of the case could determine the future of the program not only in Kentucky but across the country.” [Talking Points Memo, 6/14/18]
Phil Bryant Opposed Expanding Medicaid Because Recipients Go To The Doctor Too Often Because They Have “Nothing Else To Do.” “Kaiser Health News: What is the cost to the state of having 17 percent of the population without health insurance? Phil Bryant: I would rather pay extra to Blue Cross [to help cover uncompensated costs for the uninsured], rather than have to raise taxes to pay for additional Medicaid recipients. Medicaid recipients multiply their visits to a physician. It’s clear once someone goes on Medicaid, the number of times they go to a physician doubles, quadruples. KHN: Some experts may argue people new to Medicaid have many health issues they need to address. Bryant: I make the argument that it’s free. It’s free and you have nothing else to do.” [Kaiser Health News, 1/23/13]
Rick Santorum Compared The ACA To Apartheid. “Nelson Mandela stood up against a great injustice and was willing to pay a huge price for that, and that’s the reason he is mourned today, because of that struggle that he performed…and I would make the argument that we have a great injustice going on right now in this country with an ever increasing size of government that is taking over and controlling people’s lives, and Obamacare is front and center in that.” [“O’Reily Factor,” Fox News, 12/5/13]
Enough is enough – it’s time for the GOP to end its war on Americans’ health care.