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Supporting the Affordable Care Act and Opposing the American Health Care Act
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WHEREAS, On January 20th, 2017 President Donald J. Trump issued and signed an executive order seeking the prompt repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148) and on March 6th, 2017 Congressional House leaders released their American Health Care Act which would significantly alter and repeal portions of the Affordable Care Act; and
WHEREAS, The American Health Care Act is opposed by the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association, with the Ohio Hospital Association estimating that one in four Ohio hospitals could close under the proposed legislation; and
WHEREAS, Comprehensive health benefits are essential to ensuring working families and retirees can get the health care they need, when they need it; and
WHEREAS, Health benefits that working people earn on the job are the biggest source of health coverage in the United States, covering 178 million workers, retirees, and their family members; and
WHEREAS, Taxing workplace health benefits will penalize working people by raising their taxes and result in cuts to their health benefits, increased deductibles and other out-of-pocket requirements, and even the elimination of entire health plans by some employees; and
WHEREAS, The American Health Care Act severely impacts and reduces the expansion of Medicaid. In Ohio over 700,000 people have enrolled in Medicaid due to expansion and 70,427 Franklin County residents were reported enrolled as of January of 2017. 75% of statewide enrollees reported having no insurance prior to enrolling; and
WHEREAS, Ohio’s own assessment of expanded Medicaid enrollees found that Medicaid expansion has improved access to behavioral and mental health services, services which are critical for those suffering from addiction; and
WHEREAS, More than 74 million people get health benefits through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Prog...
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