The ACA repeal bill (“American Health Care Act”) unveiled by Paul Ryan and Republicans in the House on Monday has received an enormous amount of flack from both sides of the aisle this week from experts who simply say the plan won’t work. Yesterday the American Medical Association came out with a statement rejecting the plan, saying the American Health Care Act will cost people more money, harm vulnerable patient populations, gut CDC funding for killer diseases and cut insurance coverage for millions. AARP previously rejected the plan on the grounds that it dramatically increases medical costs for people ages 50-64.
Despite the overwhelming criticism of the American Health Care Act, it is still plowing forward at breakneck speed in Congress in hopes to pass before the April recess without a fraction of the scrutiny, testimony, transparency or debate the ACA received when it was considered and passed in Congress in 2009-2010. Whereas the ACA took 402 days to reach Obama’s desk, the GOP is hoping to pass the repeal and replace plan in mere weeks. It already passed the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday without a single change. We have already called you to action to ask your U.S. Reps to oppose the ACA repeal bill (if you haven’t already done so, click here to take action). Here’s what else you can do.
CALL TO ACTION
- Call Senator Lee to support his opposition to the ACA repeal. You may or may not agree with Lee’s position that the ACA needs full repeal and then replacement versus the repeal and replace strategy of the American Health Care Act. Regardless, opposition by Republicans like Sen. Lee to this ACA repeal bill could be just what is needed to defeat this extremely consumer unfriendly, low-income and woman-unfriendly bill. Senator Mike Lee – D.C. (202) 224-5444, UT (801) 392-9633
- Contact your U.S. Representative to demand greater transparency and deliberation in the process of considering any repeal legislation, including requiring a public a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report to show how much it would cost. You can also ask them to oppose this bill, but demanding greater transparency is more essential move right now. If you get voicemail, be sure to leave your name, address and zip code to make sure your call is counted. Find our Rep and his/her contact info below.
- Share articles about the American Health Care Act on social media. A list of great articles to share is included below.
Rep. Rob Bishop (UT01) – D.C. (202) 225-0453, UT (801) 625-0107
Rep. Chris Stewart (UT02) – D.C. (202) 225-9730, UT (801) 364-5550
Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT03) – D.C. (202) 225-7751, UT (801) 851-2500
Rep. Mia Love (UT04) – D.C. (202) 225-3011, UT (801) 996-8729
Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here.
Articles to repost to social media:
- The GOP health bill doesn’t know what problem it’s trying to solve by Ezra Klein, Vox
- The American Health Care Act: the Republicans’ bill to replace Obamacare by Sarah Kliff, Vox
- GOP’s Obamacare Replacement Will Make Coverage Unaffordable For Millions — Otherwise, It’s Great by conservative policy adviser Avik Roy, Forbes
- Conservative groups blast GOP healthcare plan by The Hill
- American Medical Association Opposes GOB Health Care Plan by NBC News
- AARP comes out against House GOP health care bill by CNN
- The GOP’s Obamacare repeal plan is out — and it’s even worse than anyone expected by columnist Michael Hiltzik, LA Times
- Experts: The GOP Health Care Plan Just Won’t Work by NBC News
- GOP’s Obamacare replacement bill: Here are the winners and losers by CNBC News
- 6 Immediate Ways Women Would Be Impacted By The GOP’s New Health Care Plan by Money
For more information on the American Health Care Act, please check out our previous post, “Reject the extremist ACA repeal bill“.
I left a message for Senator Lee and posted on social media.