Rally targets Republican health care proposals
MEDIA » The vote on the Senate GOP’s health care proposal — the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) of 2017 — will not be taken prior to the July 4 break, giving activists a chance to organize an information rally. About 100 individuals, young to old, came out to the Delaware County Courthouse Thursday night to hear not only facts, but personal impact stories that illustrated the issues of why they believe the act fails to meet needs of just about every segment of society.
“With the vote on the act delayed, we have a real opportunity to advocate for a bipartisan solution,” said Peggy Wilson of Delco PA Indivisible.
Eight speakers represented a range of topics including critically ill children and families; veterans; Medicaid and mental health parity with physical health; the opioid epidemic; and Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. Each of these, as well as other areas touched upon, would be impacted by the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without adequate replacement.
Facts and figures tell part of these stories. Sam Flint, whose expertise is in health care policy, launched the 90 minute program by framing the issue as “what do we have to lose?” To gain perspective, he said the 22 million individuals who are estimated to lose health care under the Senate plan’s first decade would represent the populations of a large handful of states across America. The issues, Flint said, are quality of service, access and cost. He stressed the GOP bill shows no cost containment.
Bridget Sturgis came with her family, including her 4-year-old son who was born with a congenital heart defect. Thanks to coverage through her husband’s insurance, the multitude of surgeries since birth and the extensive medications for her son were covered. However, she said, lifelong care would be needed, and the elimination of coverage for pre-existing conditions such as her child’s would be devastating.
The impact on veterans has been felt by Jennifer O’Mara, whose husband is a double Purple Heart recipient who served in Afghanistan.
“Most veterans are discouraged by using the Veterans Administration health care because it is too complicated,” O’Mara said, noting the prevalence of condition as that make figuring out the system difficult. “And often there is no coverage for families. We must do better for the people who fight for us.”
Cuts in Medicaid would have a significant impact on mental health treatment and recovery programs at a time when the opioid epidemic is chronicled daily nationwide. This topic was addressed by Devin Reaves, who is in recovery and now works on finding services for others; and Alyssa Shatz, the vice president for advocacy for Mental Health Partnership.
Reaves asked those attending if they knew anyone with Type 2 Diabetes, and many hands were raised. “The numbers for Type 2 Diabetes and substance use disorder are the same. But we have to stop looking at the numbers, and start looked at the people,” Reaves said.
The collation of advocates and speakers strongly demonstrated it is not one area of health care or one segment of society who will be affected by the House and Senate bills that, in their opinions, fail to meet America’s needs. At the conclusion of these impassioned presentations, one final speaker had the task of addressing the question, “Where do we go from here?”
Antoinette Kraus of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, said, “The policy being debated affects every single one of us. Over the next couple of weeks, our job is to tell our legislators to vote against the bill. Lives are on the line, and this plan is unacceptable.
“This week is critical. Flood the senators and representatives with these stories every day, because our stories move the needle. Don’t let them go back to Washington and say they didn’t hear from anyone,” Kraus said.