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Quick Action

The Senate GOP is once again threatening to take health coverage away from millions of Americans, gut Medicaid and end guaranteed protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Call, fax, email, Tweet, share Suit Up Maine graphics and show up until Sens. King and Collins issue statements opposing Graham-Cassidy.

Health Care, Reproductive Rights & Disability Rights Working Group C2A

THE ISSUE

The GOP has launched a last-gasp effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) before September 30, the last date the Senate reconciliation process can be used to pass a repeal with just 50 votes. Lead sponsors Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) say the legislation—an amendment to the bill passed by the House in May—gives power back to the states. The Center for Budget Policy & Priorities reports it takes from the states—mightily.

 

The bill eliminates ACA subsidies and tax credits for middle- and low-income Americans and ends Medicaid expansion. Instead, states will receive much smaller temporary block grants that begin in 2020 and end in 2027. Overall funding for health care is slashed by $239 billion more between 2020-2026 compared to current law. The bill guts Medicaid and changes its funding formula to a per-person spending cap in 2020. These changes—along with the end of block grants—amount to nearly $300 BILLION less for health care in 2027 alone. Analysist say this will force states to reduce or eliminate health care to millions of elderly, children, people with disabilities and the poor. The bill also:

 

The Maine Center for Economic Policy says the bill would hit Maine hard:

  • $115 million decrease in federal funding by 2026.
  • $1 billion decrease in federal funding in 2027 alone.
  • 15,000 lost jobs, most in the health care field.
  • 229,000 Mainers with pre-existing conditions could lose coverage.
  • 19,000 Mainers who rely on the ACA for opioid addiction treatment could lose that care.

 

THE ACTION

While we await the CBO report, Republican senators are recruiting votes for Graham-Cassidy and reportedly have as many as 49 votes. They must pass the legislation by September 30, giving us 2 weeks to defeat this bill.

 

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