Locals hopeful, concerned as GOP health bill advances

A mixture of uncertainty and optimism for positive changes ahead befell various local health leaders, politicians and community members alike following the passage of the GOP health care bill by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The bill passed by a narrow 217-213 vote, with widespread opposition from the Democratic side.

As the bill heads to the Senate, there are expectations that many changes are in store for the legislation to replace and repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act.

Philip Townsend, president at Sunland Chemical and Co. Inc in Yuma, said that he has been struggling to provide coverage to his employees with the ACA, or “Obamacare,” and he is hopeful that there will be necessary changes.

“My take on it as a small business owner who works very hard to provide healthcare benefits to my employees-the current situation has been horrible,” Townsend stated. “Since the passage of Obamacare, our premiums have gone out of sight for much, much less coverage. In fact, we got to the point (where) we had one option this last year. The other companies that have provided healthcare insurance to businesses my size in Arizona no longer

were interested.”

The small business owner said that he felt the limitations were stifling.

“We were being held hostage to a situation where we had one company that we could deal with and we paid our premiums or we don’t have health insurance for our employees. It’s become a really bad situation from my standpoint as an employer.”

“Also, for my own health insurance I have to pay for, the premiums are outrageous,” Townsend added. “I am excited they are working on it. I hope the end product is much better than what we currently have and it will allow competition from insurance companies to participate. I am glad that they are finally getting their act together to at least pass something.”

Townsend said he is hopeful as the bill advances on the legislative path.

“Let’s see what the end product looks like,” Townsend said. “I realize this is phase one of at least a three phase project but something has got to give because it’s almost to a point where I can no longer find or afford healthcare insurance for my employees.”

While the bill has been changed numerous times since Republicans originally introduced it in March, many still have reservations about its future.

“I would never have thought that the ACA is perfect, but if we going to repeal it and if we are going to replace it, then we need to repeal it and replace it with something that is bigger and better than what we have,” said House Minority Whip Rep. Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma. “That is my issue with it (the bill). I think it’s very premature, I think it’s very political and I think it’s very polarizing. We have many, many people in this area where I live-this is my home,Yuma County-that rely on the ACA and I don’t want to see people go without healthcare.”

According to The Associated Press, earlier Congressional analysts estimate that if the bill becomes law, 24 million more Americans could be uninsured by 2026, including 14 million by next year.

“If passed the American Health Care Act could greatly impact access to health care for many individuals and families in Yuma County and Arizona alike,” said Ana Soliz, lead navigator at Sunset Community Health Center in Yuma. “If the AHCA becomes law without changes, the AHCA could reduce the amount the federal government provides to states for Medicaid-also known in Arizona as AHCCCS (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System). The AHCA would also change the way premium tax credits are determined, among other changes.”

For the meantime, Soliz said the health center, which aims to serve lowincome working families, the medically underserved and high risk populations as well as others, will be providing resources for healthcare to the community as usual.

“As we wait to see what will come, today the Affordable Care Act is still the law,” Soliz noted. “The AHCA has not changed anything yet — there are several more steps before it can become a law and changes to the bill are likely to happen. (No) one knows what the final bill will look like.”