Sen. Debbie Stabenow: “We’re here today to allow citizens from arou nd the country to be able to speak about what these proposals mean to tens of millions of Americans.”
Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. Democratic senators and rural health care providers testified Wednesday that Trump care would devastate rural health care. Republican Senate leaders are conspiring in secret to destroy the Affordable Care Act and replace it with something that covers less and costs more – with not a single public hearing.
So Democrats held their own hearing on Trumpcare’s impact on healthcare in rural America.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow: “These proposals they are putting together will devastate rural communities. Medicaid covers nearly half of the children in small towns and rural areas is Michigan and across the country. Half.
Medicaid covers more than half of all seniors in nursing homes.
The Republicans are proposing legislation that will gut Medicaid healthcare.”
Democrats say 46 million rural Americans will see access to healthcare decline if the Affordable Care Act is replaced by Trumpcare. Washington Senator Patty Murray says based on what’s known so far about the Republican health care bills ,Trumpcare would be a disaster for rural America.
Sen. Patty Murray: “By allowing insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, Trumpcare will disproportionately hurt families in rural communities. And this bill, by ending Medicaid as we know it, would put a lot of our rural hospitals at the risk of closure.”
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden says most of his state is rural and will be hit very hard if Trumpcare replaces the Affordable Care Act.
Sen Ron Wyden: “The House bill will hit Oregon and rural communities like a wrecking ball.”
Phil Ennen heads Community Hospitals & Wellness Centers in Ohio.
Phil Ennen: Passage of the AHCA means we’re looking at millions of dollars of revenue losses. The very survival of our independent hospitals is in play.”
Chuck Duarte is CEO of Community Health Alliance in Nevada.
Chuck Duarte: “The potential loss of health coverage for tens of thousands of rural Nevadans will also make it more difficult for them to afford care.
It’ll result in delays in care, exacerbation of chronic disease and delays in getting addiction services and mental health services - which will result in death.”