Listen Now: Morning News

Reactions range following US Senate health care bill announcement

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans unveiled their health care bill draft Thursday, leading to mixed reactions from lawmakers and outside organizations about the replacement for former President Barack Obama’s health care law.

The announcement comes after weeks of discussions behind closed doors.

The Better Care Reconciliation Act would phase out Medicaid expansion beginning in 2021, a larger timeline compared to the House of Representative’s health care bill, though cuts would be deeper. Older people under 65 years old would pay five times as much for coverage than younger people, compared to the current 3-to-1 ratio.

Medical coverage for multiple conditions — including maternity care and mental health — would not be required after 2019, with states having control regarding what is covered.

In addition, the legislation eliminates the “Obamacare” individual mandate for those who don’t purchase insurance, as well as the employer mandate for larger companies. Multiple “Obamacare” taxes would also be eliminated.

Certain provisions of the current health care law would remain intact, including covering pre-existing conditions and allowing those up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ health insurance coverage.

States would also be provided with $2 billion worth of grants to combat opioid addiction.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Americans deserved better care than what Democrats passed in 2010.

“When legislation does come to the floor, it will present Senate Democrats with another opportunity to do what’s right for the American people,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “They can choose to keep standing by as their failing law continues to collapse and hurt more Americans, but I hope they will join with us instead to bring relief to the families who have struggled under ‘Obamacare’ for far too long.”

Four Republican senators — Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky — said they would not vote on the bill in its current condition.

“There are provisions in this draft that represent an improvement to our current healthcare system but it does not appear this draft as written will accomplish the most important promise that we made to Americans: to repeal Obamacare and lower their healthcare costs,” the senators said in a joint statement.

President Donald Trump tweeted his approval of the Senate plan Thursday evening.

“I am very supportive of the Senate #HealthcareBill,” Trump said. “Look forward to making it really special! Remember, ObamaCare is dead.”

Obama said the Senate bill was not a health care bill, but rather “a massive transfer of wealth from middle-class and poor families to the richest people in America.”

“It remains my fervent hope that we step back and try to deliver on what the American people need,” the former president said in a Facebook post. “That might take some time and compromise between Democrats and Republicans. But I believe that’s what people want to see.”

Trump held a celebratory press conference after the House approved its health care bill in May, but later called the legislation “mean” in front of Republican senators.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in a statement she will review the legislation and evaluate how it will affect health care costs.

Capito has been a target of campaigns urging her to vote against new legislation.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, came out against the bill, saying the cuts to Medicaid and tax eliminations would benefit wealthy individuals at the cost of hurting others.

“I agree with President Trump that the House bill needed more heart, and it seems that the Senate bill needs more soul,” Manchin said. “Based on my initial review, the healthcare bill released by Republican Leadership today appears to be as bad of a deal for West Virginia as the House bill.”

West Virginians for Affordable Health Care executive director Chantal Fields called the Senate draft “a disaster waiting to happen.”

“Our analysis shows that the bill will cut more than $400 million federal dollars a year from our state Medicaid program,” she said in a statement. “For families with loved ones — parents, children — who need nursing home care or receive home- and community-based long term services, the Senate Medicaid cuts will truly devastating.

More than 170,000 West Virginians gained health care coverage under Medicaid expansion.

AARP West Virginia also released new survey data Thursday regarding the House health care plan, the American Health Care Plan. According to the findings, 78 percent of respondents 50 years old or older oppose cutting Medicaid funding. In addition, 92 percent are against to charging older Americans five times as much for health care.

“The idea that five times more simply makes that health insurance unaffordable for those folks, particularly between the ages of 50 and 64,” chapter state director Gaylene Miller said.

The Congressional Budget Office said it will release its report on the draft “early next week.” The CBO released a report last month on the House health care bill. That legislation, according to the agency, would result in 23 million more Americans losing health care coverage compared to the current health care system.





More News

News
PSC approves settlements involving Mon Power, net-metering cases
Rate increase went into effect Tuesday.
March 27, 2024 - 9:42 pm
News
Speakers at Focus Forward symposium discuss AI capabilities in West Virginia
The event was organized by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.
March 27, 2024 - 8:30 pm
News
Justice vetoes vaccination exemption bill, draws praise from healthcare groups
Educational and healthcare organizations banded together to urge a veto.
March 27, 2024 - 6:35 pm
News
Testimony wraps up in attempt to remove 2 Jefferson County commissioners from office
Three-judge panel hears 2 days of testimony.
March 27, 2024 - 5:11 pm