After Late-Night Re-Write of Health Care Bill That Guts ‘Essential Benefits’ New Yorkers Demand Reps Vote No
Community Groups Hold ‘Die-Ins’ and Emergency Protests Outside Local Offices Across NYS, Thank Republican Dan Donovan for ‘No’ Vote Pledge
Albany, NY – On the verge of a failed vote in the House, Republican leadership frantically re-wrote key provisions in the American Health Care Act last night in an effort to appease radical right-wing members of their party. The changes include gutting critical aspects of the Affordable Care Act, including removing the ‘essential health benefits’ that guarantee all insurance plans provide basic coverage like prescription drugs, maternity care, and mental health coverage. The move has sparked an urgent push by New Yorkers to get their representatives to vote against the bill in Thursday evening’s expected vote.
Karen Scharff, executive director of Citizen Action of New York, said: “Republican leaders’ last-ditch effort to save their health care bill makes it more clear than ever before that their priority is gaining political power and making profits for CEOs, not keeping people healthy. As if eliminating coverage for 24 million people wasn’t enough, now they want to gut the plans that will be available. A vote for this bill amounts to spiteful, callous disregard for the lives of constituents.”
Eliminating the requirement to include ‘essential health benefits’ from plans that are purchased on health care exchanges will save insurance companies money because they can provide skimpy benefits while leaving consumers with the full cost of these services.
The current version of the bill includes additional cuts to Medicaid through the Collins/Faso Amendment and cuts to tax subsidies based on income, which will especially hurt constituents, health care providers and hospitals in New York’s rural congressional districts.
“My family has exchange plans through Fidelis. We receive a subsidy and without it we will go back to paying over $1,200 a month, which is what we paid before the ACA,” said Kimberley Hart of Starling Yards in Red Hook (CD-19). “We take our health seriously and having access to preventative care is important, in addition to catastrophic coverage, if we were to have an accident on the farm. Our employees receive health benefits through the Medicaid expansion which if taken away will force a large number of the hard working farm crew members to go without the safety net of a basic health plan.”
A broad coalition of community, labor, senior, children’s and health advocacy organizations have nine direct actions planned at Congressional offices across New York State today, the seventh anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law.
In Staten Island, constituents will thank Rep. Dan Donovan for recognizing the inhumane impact of the bill in his community and applaud his pledge to vote against the bill if it comes to the House floor today.
Press events and actions across New York State today:
11 am
Rep. Peter King’s office Drop Bys
1003 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park
Contact: Michael Gendron, CWA, 516-398-7136
12 pm
Thank You Rep. Dan Donovan
New Dorp Lane, outside Staten Island Station, then march to Donovan’s office
Contact: Mark Hannay, [email protected]
12 pm
Press conference in Rep. Lee Zeldin’s District
Medford Multi-Care Center, 3115 Horseblock Road, Medford
Contact: Derek Grate, [email protected]
12 pm
Health Care Emergency – ER Pop Up to Save Our Care
Rep. John Faso’s Kingston Office
721 Broadway, Kingston
Contact: Callie Jayne [email protected]
4 pm
Demonstration at ZeptoMetrix, Medical Device Manufacturer near Rep. Chris Collins
878 Main Street, Buffalo
Contact: Whitney Yax, 716-812-5328, [email protected]
4 pm
Gathering at MLK Statue on Court Street, march to Rep. Claudia Tenney’s office in Binghamton
49 Court Street, Binghamton
Contact: Amy Fleming, 607-306-0341
4 pm
Die-in at Rep. Elise Stefanik’s office in Glens Falls
136 Glen Street, Glens Falls
Contact: Jamaica Miles, [email protected]
5:30 pm
Picket at Rep. Lee Zeldin’s Fundraiser
Hunt & Fish Club, 125 W. 44th Street, Manhattan
Contact: Mark Hannay, [email protected]
5:30 pm
Plattsburgh Common Council votes on resolution calling for strengthening ACA
Council Chambers, Second Floor, City Hall, 41 City Hall Place, Plattsburgh
Contact: Mark Spadafore, [email protected]
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