Statement of Robert Restuccia, executive director of Community Catalyst, on legislation introduced today by Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller and Johnson to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid.

(BOSTON, MA) — “In a week where the Senate HELP committee continues open, bipartisan hearings to get input from governors and other health experts on ways to strengthen the health care market and improve the Affordable Care Act, Senators Graham, Cassidy, Heller and Johnson are moving the health care discussion backwards. Today, they introduced yet another ill-conceived proposal that would undermine health coverage for millions. It is the most destructive repeal plan we have seen to date.

“The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson plan would essentially eliminate ACA tax credits to purchase health care coverage and the funds that support Medicaid coverage for millions of low-income adults. This would dramatically increase costs for consumers, and lead to millions losing health coverage. It would also resurrect the already-rejected draconian cuts to coverage for seniors, kids and people living with disabilities, and it would roll back key consumer protections. The plan’s proposed cuts to Medicaid would also have short- and long-term dire impacts on state budgets, as Massachusetts GOP Governor Charlie Baker cautioned in his opposition to the plan in testimony before the Senate HELP committee last Friday. Meanwhile, new polling underscores what we already know – that such proposals are massively unpopular with the public. Americans want Congress and the President to move on from repeal, to do what it takes to make the ACA work better for everyone and to strengthen our health care system. 

“We urge members of the Senate to reject the Graham-Cassidy-Heller repeal plan. The American people have moved on, and most of Congress has moved on. It’s time for all of our elected officials to move on from efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and work together in a bipartisan fashion to make our health care better and more affordable, accessible and equitable.”

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About Community Catalyst
Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit our website and blog. Follow us on Twitter @healthpolicyhub.