47,000.

That’s how many North Dakotans are estimated to lose health coverage under Graham-Cassidy.

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – 47,000 North Dakotans would lose health coverage under Republicans’ latest, last-ditch effort to pass a health care repeal bill, according to a new estimate by the Center for American Progress. Across the country, 32 million Americans would lose their coverage.
 
Yesterday, the American Medical Association joined 17 other health care organizations by announcing their opposition to the latest repeal bill, known as Graham-Cassidy. The AMA wrote that, like previous health care repeal bills, Graham-Cassidy “violates the precept of ‘First do no harm.’”        
 
“North Dakotans should ask themselves why national Republicans – including Rep. Kevin Cramer and Sen. John Hoeven – refuse to work on health care reform proposals that don’t start with destructive goals like revoking protections for preexisting conditions, eliminating Medicaid expansion, and dismantling traditional Medicaid,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil. “Supporting a bill that would cause 47,000 North Dakotans and 32 million Americans to lose their health insurance isn’t just bad policy – it’s immoral. Sen. Hoeven and Rep. Cramer should drop these reckless efforts, and instead focus on bipartisan solutions that stabilize insurance markets, expand coverage, and lower costs. There are plenty of good ideas out there, including many of the policies Senator Heitkamp has been working on and accomplishing for years.” 
 
“State Sen. Tom Campbell – an announced candidate for U.S. Senate – also has an obligation to tell us where he stands on ripping health insurance away from 47,000 North Dakotans,” added McNeil.          

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11 ways Senator Heitkamp has fought to improve health care for North Dakotans and stabilize the insurance markets

(BISMARCK, ND) – As Washington Republicans twist arms to garner support for the unpopular Graham-Cassidy health care bill that would raise costs and rip coverage away from thousands of North Dakotans, Senator Heidi Heitkamp has urged both sides to come together on common-sense, bipartisan solutions to improve health coverage and stabilize the insurance markets. She has worked for the past four-and-a-half years on many proposals to make the health reform law work better for North Dakotans. In addition to fighting to protect care for children with disabilities, seniors and North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions, here are 11 actions Senator Heitkamp has taken to try to fix what’s broken in health care:

  1. 1. Introduced the Addressing Affordability for More Americans Act this year, which would help more North Dakota families buy insurance through the individual market by making premium assistance more available for seniors, workers and middle-class families.
  2. 2. In 2013, listened to the concerns of North Dakotans through panels with small business owners and consumers – she also created a page on her website to answer questions about health care reform and direct North Dakotans to resources to obtain coverage.
  3. 3. In June, she led the charge on the Senate floor with 15 Democratic Senators urging bipartisan cooperation to immediately pass legislation to provide certainty in the insurance markets and lower health care premiums for North Dakotans.
  4. 4. This year, she again cosponsored the Commonsense Competition and Access to Health Insurance Act to request insurance regulators to analyze the effectiveness of selling health insurance across state lines.
  5. 5. In June of this year, supported and pushed for the Marketplace Stabilization Act to make premium assistance payments permanent and increase the eligibility and generosity of the benefit – this would bring more certainty to the marketplace and make health care more affordable and accessible for North Dakotans.
  6. 6. Introduced her bipartisan Small Business Healthcare Relief Act with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in 2015 to help employers offer health care reimbursement accounts to their employees. This bill was signed into law in December 2016.
  7. 7. Joined Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) in 2015 to introduce her bipartisan Restoring Access to Medication Act with to help make over-the-counter medications more affordable for North Dakota’s seniors and families. This bill was reintroduced this year.
  8. 8. In 2014, she unveiled a package of 9 pieces of legislation with five other Senators to make health insurance more affordable and the marketplace more competitive for consumers, offer relief for small businesses and workers, and improve access to quality plans for all Americans.
  9. 9. Successfully urged the Obama Administration in 2013 to delay the employer mandate until a sustainable plan was in place for businesses to provide coverage to their employees.
  10. 10. Supported the common-sense Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act, which would give small businesses more flexibility to provide affordable coverage to their workers. Senator Heitkamp also pressed the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on this issue. This bill was signed into law in October 2015.
  11. 11. Fought to protect access to preventive care – such as mammogram screenings – at no out-of-pocket costs, by leading a bipartisan and bicameral letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and supporting the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings Act in 2015.

“While Washington is in yet another partisan food-fight over health care, it’s refreshing that Senator Heitkamp is continuing to offer real solutions – just as she has for years – to bring stability to the insurance markets and improve health care for North Dakotans,” said Democratic-NPL chairwoman Kylie Oversen. “Rural states like North Dakota face a lot of challenges when it comes to health care, and the recent Graham-Cassidy bill would only make access to health care even worse. Senator Heitkamp has shown great leadership by staying laser-focused on common-sense solutions, not politics – I hope Kevin Cramer and Tom Campbell will join her in supporting these bipartisan, pro-North Dakota reforms.”

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Hoeven ‘supportive’ of newest GOP repeal effort opposed by numerous national medical organizations

Campbell and Cramer remain silent – Where do they stand?   

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – The Fargo Forum reported yesterday that U.S. Senator John Hoeven is “supportive” of the newest Republican health care repeal bill known as Graham-Cassidy. Hoeven’s support comes as no fewer than 18 national medical and patient organizations announced their opposition to the bill.
 
State Senator Tom Campbell – who is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on television ads for his U.S. Senate campaign 14 months before election day – hasn’t said a word about Graham-Cassidy or its impacts on North Dakota. Neither has Congressman Kevin Cramer.
 
“North Dakotans have been clear that they expect our leaders to work for real, bipartisan health care solutions that lower costs and protect patients, without kicking tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their health insurance, without dismantling Medicaid, and without jeopardizing rural hospitals that are critical in states like ours,” said Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen. “Unfortunately Republicans in Washington and our own Senator John Hoeven haven’t gotten that message. While Kevin Cramer has supported equally devastating measures in the past, perhaps the silence from Tom Campbell on Graham-Cassidy suggests he understands what an awful piece of legislation this truly is. Campbell apparently wants to be a senator, but he’s too scared to say if he stands for a bill that would hurt North Dakota.”

Graham-Cassidy’s impacts on North Dakota:
 
Last week, the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities released a report showing that North Dakota stands to lose $677 million in Medicaid funding over the next decade under Graham-Cassidy. Medicaid provides health coverage for over 90,000 North Dakotans, including approximately 36,000 children. Another report from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation found that Graham-Cassidy would impose an age tax on older Americans, allowing insurers to charge them up to 5 times more for coverage.

Major medical organizations oppose Graham-Cassidy: 
 
Today, the American Medical Association – the largest organization representing physicians in the United States – announced their opposition to Graham-Cassidy, writing:
 
“Similar to proposals that were considered in the Senate in July, we believe the Graham-Cassidy Amendment would result in millions of Americans losing their health insurance coverage, destabilize health insurance markets, and decrease access to affordable coverage and care.” 
 
The AMA added that Graham-Cassidy, “violates the precept of ‘first do no harm.’”
 
Other national organizations opposing the bill include: 
 
– American Medical Association 
– American College of Physicians
– ALS Association
– American Cancer Society 
– American Diabetes Association
– American Heart Association
– American Lung Association
– Arthritis Foundation
– Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
– Family Voices
– JDRF
– Lutheran Services in America
– March of Dimes
– National Health Council
– National Multiple Sclerosis Society
– National Organization for Rare Diseases
– Volunteers of America
– WomenHeart

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Latest GOP repeal bill slashes North Dakota’s Medicaid funding by $677 million

With access to health care for over 90,000 North Dakotans potentially impacted, where do Hoeven, Campbell & Cramer stand? 

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report from the nonpartisan Center for Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the latest Republican health care repeal bill – known as Cassidy-Graham-Heller – would reduce North Dakota’s Medicaid funding by $677 million over the next decade, increasing costs for families and jeopardizing coverage for over 90,000 North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid, including approximately 36,000 children.The CBPP also found that Cassidy-Graham-Heller would gut coverage for pre-existing conditions, while another report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found it would impose an age tax on older Americans, allowing insurers to charge them up to 5 times more for coverage.

“After months of outcry in North Dakota and all across the country, Republicans in Washington, D.C., still haven’t gotten the message,” said Democratic-NPL chairwoman Kylie Oversen. “Repealing health care for millions of families, slashing funding from Medicaid, and dismantling protections for North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions is deeply irresponsible and unethical. This latest, last-ditch effort at repeal is strikingly similar to other recent repeal bills, all of which were overwhelmingly criticized by medical organizations nationwide and in North Dakota, all of which were deeply unpopular across the country and in North Dakota, and none of which mustered enough support to pass through Congress. North Dakotans should demand to know where their leaders – including those vying for elected office – stand on issues that have such an immediate and potentially devastating impact on our livelihoods.”

Leading health care organizations including the American College of Physicians have already come out in opposition to the Cassidy-Graham-Heller repeal bill, which they say would “cause a significant increase in the number of uninsured patients and [would] undermine essential benefits provided for patients insured under current law.”

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State Sen. Tom Campbell can’t name a single accomplishment from six years in elected office

Really?
 
(BISMARCK, ND) – Appearing on a conservative talk radio program last week, State Sen. Tom Campbell was asked which accomplishments from his six years in elected office would make him qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate. He couldn’t even name one. (Audio at 28:30)
 
Responding to Campbell’s inability to name a single accomplishment after serving in three legislative sessions, Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil said:
 
“Tom Campbell spent the beginning of the year bragging to the national media about how he will spend millions of dollars in his personal wealth to run for national political office. He even said he didn’t care what political office he ran for – U.S. House or Senate – as long as it got him to Washington, DC.  
 
“Now, Campbell is desperately running endless self-promoting TV commercials fourteen months before Election Day. It just reinforces the fact that he’s a wealthy state politician with the means and ego to try to buy his way into higher political office. On top of that, he can’t name a single accomplishment from his six years in elected office, which is all the evidence North Dakotans need to see how transparently self-serving Campbell really is. 
 
“If Tom Campbell can’t name one accomplishment from six years in Bismarck, why should North Dakotans give him six years in Washington D.C.?”
 
TRANSCRIPT: 
 
Host Rob Port: You have six years in the state legislature, basically a term and a half, you’ve been through three legislative sessions now, what would you point to as your accomplishments during that time that would commend you for service in the United States Senate?
 
State Sen. Tom Campbell: Well I believe without a doubt I’m a good listener. In my district I was one of the few Senators that spent time and published my cell number, brought the things that people like, showed conservative values. You know I supported less taxing, less government, so I guess I would reiterate some of those same values that I’m going to be bringing to Washington, same things that I’ve listened to in District 19, and now I’ve got basically 47 districts instead of one. I’ve gotten two of three issues a week where most of my colleagues probably got one or two or three issues a year. So I will be out there traveling, nobody will outwork me, 14-, 15-, 16-hour days are nothing new, I’ve done it in business all my life, so I would welcome any competition, or anybody that wants to follow in our Democracy on running against me…
 
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Silence from Cramer & Hoeven on atrocities in Charlottesville is deafening

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to the deadly white supremacist rally that occurred in Charlottesville, VA, over the weekend, Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“This weekend, we witnessed horrific acts of hate, violence and terror perpetrated by white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis. This was terrorism, plain and simple, and it claimed American lives. There should be no hesitation to condemn it, and no equivocation about who carried out these acts of terror.

“Two days have gone by, and North Dakotans have yet to hear from Congressman Kevin Cramer or Senator John Hoeven. We have heard forceful words of condemnation from other leaders across the country – both Republicans and Democrats – and it’s time for all North Dakota leaders to speak out, too.”

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Silence from Cramer & Hoeven on atrocities in Charlottesville is deafening

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to the deadly white supremacist rally that occurred in Charlottesville, VA, over the weekend, Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“This weekend, we witnessed horrific acts of hate, violence and terror perpetrated by white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis. This was terrorism, plain and simple, and it claimed American lives. There should be no hesitation to condemn it, and no equivocation about who carried out these acts of terror.

“Two days have gone by, and North Dakotans have yet to hear from Congressman Kevin Cramer or Senator John Hoeven. We have heard forceful words of condemnation from other leaders across the country – both Republicans and Democrats – and it’s time for all North Dakota leaders to speak out, too.”

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Cramer opposes a bipartisan approach to health care. Americans strongly support it.

(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Cramer is adamant in his opposition to a bipartisan approach to improving our health care. Recently, he scoffed at the notion that members of both parties should work together to develop bipartisan reforms, saying: “That bar was so low anybody could have crawled over it. And somehow 48 Democrats and three Republicans couldn’t make their way over it. And now they think that if we all work together, it will be better.”

But new polling from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that Americans overwhelming disagree with Cramer’s highly partisan approach.

According to the poll:

– 57% of Americans want to see Republicans work with Democrats to make improvements to our current health care system, not repeal.

– 60% say it is a “good thing” congressional Republicans were unable to pass their strictly partisan health care repeal legislation (which was authored, in part, by Rep. Cramer).

– 60% say Republicans in Congress will be to blame for any problems with the current health care law.

– 78% think the administration should do what they can to make the current health care system work, including 52% of Republicans and 51% of Trump supporters.

“North Dakotans expect their elected leaders to be problem solvers and consensus builders,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Unfortunately, Congressman Cramer is neither. From Day One, Cramer showed that his first priority is himself. He is willing to do anything to pass his highly partisan agenda – no matter how low the bar – even if it means tens of thousands of North Dakotans will lose access to care and even more will face increased costs. North Dakotans simply can’t trust Cramer to have their backs.”  

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Nonpartisan report shows uncertainty, mixed signals from stalled Republican health care repeal efforts & potential move from Administration leading insurers to seek higher premiums

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that mixed signals from the stalled Republican health care repeal efforts – as well as actions taken by the administration that threaten to disrupt insurance markets – are causing uncertainty “far outside the norm” leading insurers to seek higher premium increases for the coming year.

“Rather than working to develop bipartisan solutions that expand access to care and lower costs, congressional Republicans like Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven pushed for widely panned legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Their ill-fated attempts at repeal – combined with the administration’s threats to destabilize insurance markets – are leading to higher premiums for North Dakota families. And still, Cramer and Hoeven show no signs of willingness to come to the table and work on real, bipartisan solutions.”     

The Kaiser Family Foundation examined publicly available filings used by insurers to justify proposed premiums to state regulators. They found that, among many factors contributing to premium increases, uncertainty and mixed signals from the Republican congress and administration played a significant role.     

According to the Associated Press:

“The vast majority of companies in states with detailed rate filings have included some language around the uncertainty, so it is likely that more companies will revise their premiums to reflect uncertainty in the absence of clear answers from Congress or the administration,” the report said. Once premiums are set, they’re generally in place for a whole year […]

“In many cases that means insurers are adding double-digit premium increases on top of what they otherwise would have requested,” said Cynthia Cox, a co-author of the Kaiser report. “In many cases, what we are seeing is an additional increase due to the political uncertainty.”

“North Dakotans deserve an honest conversation about what needs fixing in our health care system, one that includes ideas from all sides and isn’t carried out behind closed doors,” added Tick. “That means we need bipartisan commitment to reining in health care costs without kicking tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their insurance as Cramer and Hoeven supported.”   

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Nonpartisan report shows uncertainty, mixed signals from stalled Republican health care repeal efforts & potential move from Administration leading insurers to seek higher premiums

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that mixed signals from the stalled Republican health care repeal efforts – as well as actions taken by the administration that threaten to disrupt insurance markets – are causing uncertainty “far outside the norm” leading insurers to seek higher premium increases for the coming year.

“Rather than working to develop bipartisan solutions that expand access to care and lower costs, congressional Republicans like Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven pushed for widely panned legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Their ill-fated attempts at repeal – combined with the administration’s threats to destabilize insurance markets – are leading to higher premiums for North Dakota families. And still, Cramer and Hoeven show no signs of willingness to come to the table and work on real, bipartisan solutions.”     

The Kaiser Family Foundation examined publicly available filings used by insurers to justify proposed premiums to state regulators. They found that, among many factors contributing to premium increases, uncertainty and mixed signals from the Republican congress and administration played a significant role.     

According to the Associated Press:

“The vast majority of companies in states with detailed rate filings have included some language around the uncertainty, so it is likely that more companies will revise their premiums to reflect uncertainty in the absence of clear answers from Congress or the administration,” the report said. Once premiums are set, they’re generally in place for a whole year […]

“In many cases that means insurers are adding double-digit premium increases on top of what they otherwise would have requested,” said Cynthia Cox, a co-author of the Kaiser report. “In many cases, what we are seeing is an additional increase due to the political uncertainty.”

“North Dakotans deserve an honest conversation about what needs fixing in our health care system, one that includes ideas from all sides and isn’t carried out behind closed doors,” added Tick. “That means we need bipartisan commitment to reining in health care costs without kicking tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their insurance as Cramer and Hoeven supported.”   

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Dem-NPL legislators attend roundtable meetings with EPA Admin. Scott Pruitt

(BISMARCK, ND) – House minority leader Corey Mock (D-NPL, Grand Forks) and Rep. Alisa Mitskog (D-NPL, Wahpeton) issued the following statements following their participation in roundtable meetings with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Rep. Mock: 

“We appreciate Administrator Pruitt’s visit to North Dakota to discuss federal policies that affect the energy and agricultural industries here at home.

“Dem-NPL leaders have been pushing to invest federal resources in research and incentive programs that help build more efficient power plants and new jobs in our energy corridor. North Dakota is proud to be an energy leader in the United States and around the world. But this can continue only if we are proactive in developing long-lasting, efficient sources of energy to power our homes, businesses, and vehicles. A comprehensive energy solution is needed to remain energy independent, and we hope federal leaders will stand with North Dakotans in making that a reality.”

Rep. Mitskog:

“It was encouraging to have state policymakers and representatives from farm and ranch groups around the same table with Administrator Pruitt this morning to discuss the rescinding of the Waters of the United States rule and ongoing efforts to ensure the interests of farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers are protected. This was an opportunity to listen to one another and seek a commonsense approach that continues our responsible stewardship of the land and ensures state and local control over issues like grazing, drainage and wetlands.

“While we don’t always agree on every policy detail, it is important for policymakers and stakeholders to come to the table and listen to one another with the common goal of promoting what’s best for North Dakota – and we appreciate that Mr. Pruitt did so with us today.”  

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Despite Republican efforts to cut addiction services, Sen. Heitkamp works to protect funding and bring communities together

(BISMARCK, ND) – Despite partisan efforts in Washington, DC, to severely scale back funding for addiction treatment services in states impacted by the opioid crisis, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp continues working to build support for policies that help address North Dakota’s needs when it comes to fighting addiction.

“While congressional Republicans and the administration talk about addressing the opioid crisis, their actions show they’re actually pushing to dismantle Medicaid and impose devastating cuts to addiction services, which is what the Republican health care bill would have done,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “On the other hand, Senator Heitkamp has been working for years to bring community members, advocates, and experts together, listening to their concerns, and elevating these concerns to the Senate. And she’s fighting back against proposed cuts to the very programs that make a difference in battling addiction in our communities.”

Engaging leaders and community members:

Over the last several years, Heitkamp has held numerous roundtable meetings with leaders and community members from across the state to discuss the addiction-related challenges they face in their hometowns. In the past 18 months, she’s held six in-state meetings with health care providers, addiction specialists, law enforcement and families affected by the crisis – including meetings in Bismarck, Jamestown, Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks and Dickinson. These public meetings also serve as a forum for leaders from around the state to share their successes in working to address addiction.

Heitkamp’s LifeBOAT Act:

In 2016, Senator Heitkamp helped pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which uses existing funds to provide more tools for first responders, law enforcement, and educators responding to the opioid crisis. Heitkamp then helped introduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment (LifeBOAT) Act, which would strengthen CARA by providing communities with the funding they need for addiction services, treatment programs and recovery efforts. This funding would come from a one-cent fee on each milligram of active opioid ingredient in prescription pain pills – with exceptions for addiction treatment as well as rebates for cancer-related pain and hospice care.

Opposing cuts to services:

Senator Heitkamp took a strong stand against efforts to end Medicaid expansion, dismantle traditional Medicaid, and slash budgets for addiction services in the Republican health care bill.

Ending Medicaid expansion in North Dakota would not only create significant problems for continued funding for treatment services – it would also make it difficult for clinics and treatment centers to stay up and running. Across the country, Medicaid provides about one-fourth of all addiction treatment services. Meanwhile, the administration’s budget would impose $400 million in cuts to federal mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, while keeping funding flat for other addiction initiatives. 

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