Health care bill would cripple our businesses

As the health care debate moves to the U.S. Senate, many small business owners hope these leaders will take a vastly different approach than their House colleagues. The American Health Care Act (AHCA) provides little basis for a reasonable, pro-business, pro-family solution for American health care. The only viable option is to start from scratch.

One of the most concerning aspects of the AHCA is the forecast that 24 million Americans will lose their health insurance. That is unacceptable. What’s more, the losses will disproportionately affect minorities and widen an already gaping divide in health care access and outcomes.

As a business owner, I understand cost considerations. But I also know from experience that indiscriminate cutting is not the same as smart budgeting. The AHCA favors the former to an overwhelming extent. If Florida wants a strong workforce and a growing economy, we need accessible, affordable health care. Unfortunately, the AHCA would do much more to defund and derail, than it would do to fix. It’s time for Congress to acknowledge that they are on a wrong and very unpopular path, and for the Senate to look in new directions for change. André Varona, Jupiter