For Immediate Release: June14, 2017
Contact: Ashley Wilson, [email protected], 202-601-7856
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to release of new legislative text of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice said:
“Yesterday, Senate Republicans released a revised version of the BCRA that doubles down on shameful policies that will harm millions of Americans, especially the most vulnerable. The bill maintains radical cuts to Medicaid, which provides care to over 76 million children, elderly, people with disabilities, and others who have fallen on hard times. Make no mistake: such cruel cuts to Medicaid will harm those who rely on this program. It is bad policy and not the solution for the problems our country faces.
“The new text makes the bill even worse for people with pre-existing conditions by deregulating the individual marketplace to allow sick and health individuals to segregate into different risk pools. This will drive up the cost of care for people with pre-existing conditions, raising premiums, and deductibles. Even people who have coverage through their employer could face annual and lifetime limits again.
“It is clear that politics are being placed over good policy and over people’s lives. The BCRA is immoral beyond repair and must be rejected. Senators should stop these harmful policies from proceeding and focus on improving access to quality, affordable healthcare, not taking it away. We are called to care for our neighbors and the BCRA shirks this moral obligation. We urge those with the power to stop this cruel, deadly bill from proceeding to have the courage to do what is right.
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NETWORK– advocates for justice inspired by Catholic sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. NETWORK has a more than 40-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org