Washington, D.C. — Topher Spiro, vice president for Health Policy at the Center for American Progress, released the below statement following the introduction of a bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Graham-Cassidy bill is one of the most devastating proposals put forth by congressional Republican leaders yet, threatening to overhaul the Medicaid program as we know it and leave millions uninsured. This proposal would eliminate protections that help millions of Americans obtain the care they need, repeal the Medicaid expansion, and place caps on the rest of Medicaid, leaving states on the hook for any and all unexpected costs from recessions, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or prescription drug price spikes.
At a time when our leaders should be focusing on a bipartisan solution to stabilize health care markets, as well as ensuring that millions devastated by natural disasters in the southern part of our country can rebuild, some congressional Republicans are instead trying to jeopardize Americans’ health and well-being.
It’s time to abandon partisan attempts to repeal the ACA once and for all. We should have an immediate goal to address threats to the ACA’s marketplaces. Efforts led by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) present a real and rare opportunity to work on a bipartisan basis to obtain these fixes to stabilize the markets and lower premiums. Congress should embrace it.
The Graham-Cassidy bill is not a viable path forward and the American people will reject it with breathtaking resolve the way they have every attempt to undermine their ability to access care.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Devon Kearns at 202.741.6290 or [email protected].