SPLC: Senate must block ill-conceived proposal to repeal Affordable Care Act
We’re deeply disappointed by the U.S. Senate’s heartless proposal to eviscerate Medicaid and roll back many of the protections made available under the Affordable Care Act. Millions of Americans would be stripped of their access to affordable health care.
This proposal fails to uphold even the most basic American ideals of equality, compassion and caring for those in need. Instead, it rewards the rich for their wealth and blames the poor for their vulnerabilities and challenges.
The Medicaid caps alone would be a huge disadvantage for states like Alabama that have historically spent little money on enrollees. The proposal would effectively lock in low spending levels, preventing states from receiving the money needed to address a public health emergency or higher medical costs associated with new technology, prescription drugs or emerging treatments. This will ultimately punish the poor, who will be forced to go without medical services when these scarce dollars are used up.
The caps also don’t allow states the flexibility to meet demographic changes such as the rise in seniors’ Medicaid costs as they age or an increase in the number of seniors covered by the program. States would be forced to find money elsewhere for their Medicaid programs – a proposition that could put other public services at risk, like funding for our schools and paying for roads, both of which are already dramatically underfunded.
For decency’s sake, we urge senators to vote ‘no’ when the bill comes up for a vote next week.
