Will Cramer, Campbell and Hoeven torpedo bipartisan health care deal?

(BISMARCK, ND) – Yesterday’s announcement of a bipartisan health care deal was met with unsurprising silence from North Dakota’s Republican leaders Rep. Kevin Cramer, senate candidate Tom Campbell, and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven – all of whom previously supported efforts to eliminate health care protections for tens of thousands of North Dakotans and totally dismantle Medicaid.
 
“Congressman Kevin Cramer, state Sen. Tom Campbell and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven all supported efforts to kick tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their insurance, dismantle Medicaid and spike costs by sowing chaos in the insurance marketplace,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil. “Now, we have a different approach, a bipartisan path forward that incorporates ideas from a wide range of stakeholders and was crafted through a normal, open legislative process. While some Republican leaders are so bent on scoring political points, they have signaled they might not support the bipartisan Alexander-Murray deal, North Dakotans are anxiously wondering where Cramer, Campbell and Hoeven stand.” 
 
“It’s also worth noting that Cramer, Campbell and Hoeven all supported the original Senate repeal bill, which actually included two years of funding for CSRs,” added McNeil. “It would be staggeringly hypocritical to oppose a truly bipartisan deal over the same funding that was included in a bill they previously supported.”
 
Alexander-Murray was crafted by a bipartisan group of 30 U.S. Senators, including Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, and incorporates input from numerous governors, state insurance commissioners, patient advocates, health care providers and insurance companies. It has already received praise from health experts and lawmakers across the ideological spectrum – even including members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus – for taking much-needed steps to stabilize insurance markets and lower costs for consumers.
 
The Alexander-Murray deal would:
– Restore critical Cost-Sharing Reduction payments that help keep health insurance affordable for as many as 42,000 North Dakotans, but were cut off by the administration.
– Restore funding for outreach and enrollment, including health care navigators – organizations that help Americans enroll in health insurance options that meet their needs – which was slashed by 93 and 96 percent for two of North Dakota’s three navigators.
– Create a Copper Plan insurance option that would provide a new, lower cost, option for individuals and families. This is a measure Sen. Heitkamp has been advocating for since 2014.
– Offer more flexibility for states to be innovative with how they ensure coverage for families. States would still be required to offer comprehensive insurance, cover the same number of individuals, and comply with the essential health benefits in the health reform law.
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When it comes to deliberate attempts to sabotage health care for ND families, Cramer, Campbell & Hoeven are part of the problem

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report from The New York Times reveals how national Republican leaders are deliberately trying to undermine health insurance markets and increase costs for consumers, following their repeated failures to repeal and replace the federal health care law.

The Times article – which follows similar reports by BuzzFeed News and the Daily Beast – also highlights how continued silence from Republican officials and candidates like Rep. Kevin Cramer, state Sen. Tom Campbell and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven is contributing to the problem of uncertainty in the marketplace and rising costs for North Dakota families.

“With massive cuts to federal funds that help North Dakotans sign up for health insurance – and statements from Medica saying their ability to participate in North Dakota’s exchange is threatened by uncertainty with federal payments to help families afford coverage – one thing is clear: Deliberate attempts from Republicans to undermine the federal health care law are sowing chaos in the insurance marketplace and threatening North Dakotans’ access to care,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil. “Representative Cramer, state Sen. Campbell, and U.S. Sen. Hoeven must call for an end to these deliberate attempts to sabotage of our health care system and commit to working on real solutions that rein in costs and protect North Dakotans’ access to care.”

According to the Times:

“After the latest Senate effort to repeal the health law collapsed, insurers still have no commitment about whether the government will continue to allocate millions of dollars in critical financing […] 

“The changing circumstances and inaction by Congress have forced insurers to raise rates and experiment with different plans for those who are not eligible for federal assistance.”

According to BuzzFeed News:    

“All of the [Department of Health and Human Service’s] 10 regional directors were told not to participate in state-based events promoting open enrollment — a significant change from years past.

“The move follows a trend by the Trump administration of stepping away from past federal assistance for Obamacare and, particularly, of dialing back resources for the upcoming open enrollment period.”

According to the Daily Beast:

“The Trump administration said it cut the navigator programs because recipients had not met previous enrollment goals (PDF). But navigators say this deliberately ignores the work they do, from educating people about their health care options to convincing those they do enroll to persuade others to do the same. For them, the dialing-back of the program reeks of a White House trying to gut a law they couldn’t legislatively undo.”

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When it comes to deliberate attempts to sabotage health care for ND families, Cramer, Campbell & Hoeven are part of the problem

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report from The New York Times reveals how national Republican leaders are deliberately trying to undermine health insurance markets and increase costs for consumers, following their repeated failures to repeal and replace the federal health care law.

The Times article – which follows similar reports by BuzzFeed News and the Daily Beast – also highlights how continued silence from Republican officials and candidates like Rep. Kevin Cramer, state Sen. Tom Campbell and U.S. Sen. John Hoeven is contributing to the problem of uncertainty in the marketplace and rising costs for North Dakota families.

“With massive cuts to federal funds that help North Dakotans sign up for health insurance – and statements from Medica saying their ability to participate in North Dakota’s exchange is threatened by uncertainty with federal payments to help families afford coverage – one thing is clear: Deliberate attempts from Republicans to undermine the federal health care law are sowing chaos in the insurance marketplace and threatening North Dakotans’ access to care,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil. “Representative Cramer, state Sen. Campbell, and U.S. Sen. Hoeven must call for an end to these deliberate attempts to sabotage of our health care system and commit to working on real solutions that rein in costs and protect North Dakotans’ access to care.”

According to the Times:

“After the latest Senate effort to repeal the health law collapsed, insurers still have no commitment about whether the government will continue to allocate millions of dollars in critical financing […] 

“The changing circumstances and inaction by Congress have forced insurers to raise rates and experiment with different plans for those who are not eligible for federal assistance.”

According to BuzzFeed News:    

“All of the [Department of Health and Human Service’s] 10 regional directors were told not to participate in state-based events promoting open enrollment — a significant change from years past.

“The move follows a trend by the Trump administration of stepping away from past federal assistance for Obamacare and, particularly, of dialing back resources for the upcoming open enrollment period.”

According to the Daily Beast:

“The Trump administration said it cut the navigator programs because recipients had not met previous enrollment goals (PDF). But navigators say this deliberately ignores the work they do, from educating people about their health care options to convincing those they do enroll to persuade others to do the same. For them, the dialing-back of the program reeks of a White House trying to gut a law they couldn’t legislatively undo.”

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Who do you trust?

The most important question when it comes to Graham-Cassidy

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – The health care system is complicated, but the question of who to trust when it comes to Republicans’ newest health care repeal bill is not:
 
On one side, in support of Graham-Cassidy, are North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven, Rep. Kevin Cramer and Gov. Doug Burgum.
 
On the other side, opposing Graham-Cassidy, are numerous health care organizations representing doctors, medical professionals, hospitals, insurers and patients.
 
“The truth is: Sen. Hoeven, Rep. Cramer and Gov. Burgum are supporting the disastrous Graham-Cassidy bill that would result in an estimated 47,000 North Dakotans losing their health coverage for political reasons, to make good on a campaign slogan,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Scott McNeil. “Simply put, Hoeven, Cramer and Burgum are putting their party ahead North Dakota families, despite the severe consequences.”
 
Take a look for yourself and ask: “Who do I trust?”  
 

Supports Graham-Cassidy: Opposes Graham-Cassidy:
 

  • U.S. Sen. John Hoeven
  • U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer
  • Gov. Doug Burgum

 

  

  • AARP, North Dakota
  • ALS Association
  • American Cancer Society
  • American College of Physicians
  • American Diabetes Association
  • American Medical Association
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • America’s Essential Hospitals
  • Americas Health Insurance Plans
  • American Heart Association
  • American Hospital Association
  • American Lung Association
  • American Nurses Association
  • American Osteopathic Association
  • American Psychiatric Association
  • The Arc
  • Arthritis Foundation
  • Association of Community Affiliated Plans
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
  • Catholic Health Association
  • Children’s Hospital Association
  • Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdoses
  • Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
  • Consumers Union
  • Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
  • Family Voices
  • Federation of American Hospitals
  • Greater New York Hospital Association
  • JDRF
  • Lutheran Services in America
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Kansas Hospital Association
  • March of Dimes
  • National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  • National Health Council
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society
  • National Organization for Rare Diseases
  • The School Superintendent’s Association and 70+ groups
  • Volunteers of America
  • Women Heart 
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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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