Campaign Action
Politico's Dan Diamond has been keeping track of the response from industry and interest groups to the Zombie Trumpcare 3.0. All the talk of a possible vote on Friday has created a swarm of opposition from every heavy hitter, enough to make any slightly vulnerable House member quake.
The AARP says the changes in the amendment they would vote on would "make this bad bill even worse."
Specifically, we are concerned that the American Health Care Act will weaken the fiscal sustainability of Medicare; dramatically increase the premium and out-of-pocket costs for 50-64 year olds purchasing coverage on the individual insurance market; substantially increase the number of Americans without insurance; and put at risk millions of children and adults with disabilities and poor seniors who depend on the Medicaid program to access long-term services and supports and other benefits. In addition, changes under consideration that would allow states to waive important consumer protections—such as allowing insurance companies to once again charge Americans with pre-existing conditions more because they've had cancer, diabetes, or heart disease—would make this bad bill even worse.
The March of Dimes slams the proposal, saying "It's easy to offer inexpensive health coverage if it doesn't cover the benefits people need."
Women and children need quality, affordable insurance coverage to be born healthy and lead healthy, productive lives. Unfortunately, in its current form, the MacArthur amendment to American Health Care Act will deny millions of pregnant women, babies and their families the affordable coverage and quality services they need.
As if taking away health care from 24 million people wasn’t bad enough, House Republicans have a new plan that would be even worse. Call your member of Congress at 202-224-3121, and tell them you expect them to FIGHT Trumpcare.
America's Essential Hospitals write that "this latest version of the AHCA is not an improvement."
It's simply bad policy that will cut a lifeline of health care for millions of Americans. […] The nation has spoken on the AHCA: Only 17 percent of the public support it and their elected representatives have rejected it once already.
And the big one, the American Hospital Association:
The latest version of the AHCA continues to put health coverage in jeopardy for many Americans. Our top concern is what this change could mean for older and sicker patients, including those with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer patients and those with chronic conditions. […] The amendment proposed this week would dramatically worsen the bill.
The American Medical Association hates it too.
As we have previously stated, we are deeply concerned that the AHCA would result in millions of Americans losing their current health insurance coverage. Nothing in the MacArthur amendment remedies the shortcomings of the underlying bill.
Oh, by the way, the Congressional Budget Office will not have a score on the bill by tomorrow, or even by next week. Not that that particularly bothers leadership. They'd undoubtedly rather not have it at all, since chances are the MacArthur amendment would make the number of uninsured even worse. They'll definitely want to have a vote before that comes out.
This overwhelming opposition from stakeholders, though, is going to give the so-called moderates all the cover they need to continue their opposition and prevent this from going to a vote. Your calls and letters will help, too.