Sen. John McCain provided the critical vote to block the so-called “skinny repeal” legislation that ended the summer chapter of Obamacare repeal, so supporters of the Affordable Care Act hope that he’ll do the same with the Graham-Cassidy legislation that senators hope to pass by Sept. 30, when the reconciliation clock runs out for the fiscal year, along with the power to pass the healthcare legislation with just 51 votes.
McCain hasn’t yet said that he’ll support the legislation, but opponents of it worry that his close friendship with Graham may sway his vote in favor of the bill, which would essentially take the money that the federal government now spend on Obamacare and send it all to the states, allowing the 50 state legislatures to figure out how to best spend it. It would also allows waivers of essential health benefits, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and other federal regulations designed to protect ordinary Americans with help problems.
Meanwhile, Save Our Care is highlighting a new study that shows the proposed legislation would cost Arizona a staggering $133 billion by 2036:
A new study from Avalere Health released today estimates that the Graham-Cassidy health care repeal bill will lead to a reduction in federal funding to states of more than $4 trillion nationwide by 2036.
Arizona alone would lose $133 billion. This is the latest analysis to confirm that the Graham-Cassidy plan is the worst repeal bill yet, stripping health coverage from 32 million Americans and raising premiums by 20 percent next year. According to another study, by the Center for American progress, 511,000 Arizonans would lose health coverage.
The bill would be devastating for Arizonans. According to Avalere Health, Arizona would lose $19 billion over the next decade, and then would continue to lose even more federal funding over the following two decades. By 2036, the repeal bill would cost Arizona $133 billion in federal funding that is needed to support those on Medicaid and to provide tax credits to help Arizonans pay for their health care.
Despite these alarming estimations and overwhelming calls for bipartisan solutions, Senate Republicans are still pushing forward this disastrous health care repeal bill and are expected to vote as soon as next week.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2017.
I love how restoring the status quo of 6 years ago is called a “disaster”. Americans have the shortest memories. My God, if people have to pay for their own stuff, what will happen?
McCain can’t be persuaded by constituent pressure… but some mining companies say he can be persuaded by cash donations…
bslap I wonder if you walk your own talk. If you were in a hurricane, would you reject government aid? An earthquake? Do you not use highways or the post office or the telephone system or the internet–all examples of projects either paid for or started by government…? If there is a run on the banks will you allow your deposits to be eaten up? Because that insurance on your deposit is a federal program, and with rhetoric like yours, you damned well better not use it.
That is right, the health care in this country, one of the richest in the world WAS a disaster 6 years ago. And, by the way, the bill also erases Planned Parenthood, which is used by women (you know, that 52% of the population whose plumbing needs regular maintenance?) for basic health care far more than for abortions, which are never paid for anyway by the feds. It is a disastrous bill that will give the state a huge amount of money to sweep and use as they wish, as they have done with so many other designated funds. Oh! Thats it! Maybe you are or are related to one of our illustrious legislators, and looking for a sweet stack of new FEDERAL cash to spend at the state level on corporate giveaways?