WATERTOWN — Health care and nonprofit workers gathered in Public Square on Friday morning to once again urge Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, to reject a revival of the American Health Care Act in Congress.
After the GOP’s health care plan to replace the Affordable Care Act failed to gain steam in Congress last month, Republicans are now hoping to resurrect the bill and get it passed by the end of next week. However, the New York Times reported that other spending issues will be at the forefront of discussions leading up to the April 29 spending deadline. Lawmakers will have to reach a new spending deal by then or the government faces a shutdown.
Health care officials and workers in the north country maintain that pulling the plug on the Affordable Care Act would end health insurance coverage for thousands of residents as well as financially hurt rural hospitals. The state Department of Health reported that the AHCA would shift billions of dollars in health care costs to the state and localities between 2017 and 2026, leading to coverage loss.
Representatives from AARP, Planned Parenthood, ACR Health and the 1199 SEIU health care workers union spoke at Friday’s Public Square rally.
Steve D. Wood, director of insurance programs for ACR Health, said the non-profit’s efforts to connect and enroll residents in health insurance though the state health exchange would be largely undone. ACR Health has helped thousands of residents in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties get health insurance coverage. Mr. Wood noted that deductibles and monthly payments will skyrocket under the GOP’s plan, while giving more power back to drug and insurance companies to set their own prices.
“Let’s move forward,” Mr. Wood said. “Instead of replacing the Affordable Care Act, how about expand it and enhance it rather than take it away.”
Ms. Stefanik never publicly said whether she would have voted in support of the AHCA before it was pulled. Leading up to the bill’s failure, she did succeed in negotiating an additional $15 billion for maternity, mental health and substance abuse treatment. She also supported an amendment to transfer $2.3 billion in county Medicaid costs to the state.
That amendment, spearheaded by U.S. Reps. John Faso and Christopher Collins, drew the ire of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who said rural hospitals throughout the state would face closure if the costs were transferred.
Another analysis by the state Department of Health released in March claimed that 15 hospitals in the 21st congressional district would lose $20.2 million in funding if the repeal is passed.
Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown would see one of the largest decreases in federal funding, with an estimated cut of over $2.4 million.