In their own words: Republicans say “repeal w/o replace” is “nonstarter”

Sen. Hoeven’s voice is (unsurprisingly) absent

(BISMARCK, ND) – On the heels of a second failure to pass their so-called ‘health care’ bill, some Senate Republicans are floating the idea of repealing health care protections for tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans without passing any replacement at all.

To do so, in the words of many Republicans (but not Sen. Hoeven), would be staggeringly irresponsible. 

According to Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), repealing health care protections in current law without a replacement is a “nonstarter.” “I tell you it will be uncertainty in the insurance markets, premiums will rise for milled-class families, it gives all the power to people who actually don’t believe in president Trump’s campaign pledges,” Cassidy said just days ago.

According to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.VA): “I did not come to Washington to hurt people […] I have serious concerns about how we continue to provide affordable care to those who have benefited from West Virginia’s decision to expand Medicaid, especially in light of the growing opioid crisis. All of the Senate health care discussion drafts have failed to address these concerns adequately […] I cannot vote to repeal Obamacare without a replacement plan that addresses my concerns and the needs of West Virginians.” 

According to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “I will vote no on the motion to proceed to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a replacement. I voted against this same proposal in 2015 […] We can’t just hope that we will pass a replacement within the next two years. Repealing without a replacement would create great uncertainty for individuals who rely on the ACA and cause further turmoil in the insurance markets.”

According to our own Sen. Hoeven? ….

Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider said:

“With Senate Republicans’ failure for the second time to pass legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, Senator Hoeven has a choice and an opportunity to come to the table and work to achieve real, bipartisan solutions that protect health care for all North Dakotans and all Americans. Or, he can continue to hide from this process, as members of his own party in Washington, DC, work to pass staggeringly irresponsible measures that put health care out of reach for working families.”   

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Dem-NPL statement on Senate Republican bill failing for the second time

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to news that Senate Republicans have, for a second time, fallen short of the votes necessary to move their ‘health care’ bill forward, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“Senator John Hoeven now has a choice. He has the opportunity to come to the table and actually work with Democrats in a real bipartisan way to protect and improve health care for all North Dakotans. Or, he can continue hiding from the process, hoping the discussion on health care will go away. The next step is up to him.”  

Dem-NPL statement on revised Senate health care bill

Sen. Hoeven criticizes severe cuts to Medicaid in private meetings; but will he stand for North Dakotans?

(BISMARCK, ND) – Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement in response to the revised Senate Republican “health care” bill revealed today:

“Senate Republicans are scrambling to salvage their deeply unpopular health care bill. Unfortunately, rather than returning to the drawing board and seeking truly bipartisan solutions that protect North Dakotans, they’ve chosen to maintain their goals of dismantling Medicaid, gutting protections for patients, and making people pay much more for worse coverage. Even under their revised plan, tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans will lose their health coverage, and that is simply unacceptable. 

“Senator Hoeven has reportedly criticized this approach behind closed doors. But when push comes to shove, will he protect North Dakotans by voting against this terrible legislation, or will he fall in line with his party’s leaders and vote to rip health coverage away from thousands of North Dakotan families?

“North Dakotans who are deeply worried about the impacts this legislation can’t afford to wait and see as Hoeven ‘reserves judgment.’ They deserve to know where Hoeven stands.”        

In a private meeting with Republican colleagues, Sen. Hoeven reportedly criticized the bill’s provisions that would eliminate Medicaid expansion and dismantle traditional Medicaid. Over 90,000 North Dakotans receive health care though Medicaid, including 36,000 North Dakota children.   

The revised Senate bill maintains Republicans’ goal of dismantling Medicaid, allows health insurers to offer even skimpier coverage, and offers a meager increase in funding to fight opioid addiction, which according to medical professionals falls far short of what’s needed to address the crisis.   

Senate Republicans’ approach to fighting opioid crisis like ‘spitting in the ocean’

Opioid funding for states like ND comes up far short in revised Republican ‘heath care’ bill

(BISMARCK, ND) – Senate Republicans are scrambling to make sweetheart deals and concessions that garner enough support to pass their widely panned, deeply unpopular ‘health care’ bill.

One such concession: Add $4.5 billion per year for 10 years for states like North Dakota that have been impacted by the opioid crisis. But medical professionals, addiction specialists, and even Republican governors say this funding is much-too-little to compensate for the dismantling of Medicaid that would occur if the Republican plan is enacted into law.

According to the New York Times:

“The new money would most likely flow to states in the form of grants over 10 years, averaging out to $4.5 billion per year. With hundreds of people dying every week from overdoses of heroin, fentanyl and opioid painkillers, some specialists say a fixed amount of grant money is simply inadequate compared with the open-ended funding stream that Medicaid provides to treat all who qualify for the coverage.”

According to Politico:

“Addiction experts and others across the political spectrum say that boosting the current bill’s $2 billion for substance abuse services is like applying a Band-Aid to a gunshot wound. Throwing a pile of cash at addiction won’t make it go away, say critics. It’s a complex, lifelong, medical problem that requires regular health care.”

According to Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich:

“That’s like spitting in the ocean.”

Under current law, addiction services are designated “essential benefits,” and therefore must be covered under plans sold on private-market exchanges. Additionally, Medicaid expansion has greatly increased access to addiction treatment for previously underserved populations.     

Both the Senate and House versions of the Republican proposals would effectively end Medicaid expansion and cap Medicaid funding, ripping health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans and millions of Americans. Additionally, the Republican health care proposals allow states to waive essential health benefits, including addiction services and mental health care for those suffering from addiction.

“As Republicans work to pass a bill that dismantles Medicaid – a program providing treatment for many North Dakotans battling addiction – this concession is an inadequate drop in the bucket,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider. “It is a meager attempt to garner ‘Yes’ votes from wavering Senators like John Hoeven who desperately need a reason to justify supporting such a terrible bill. If the goal is truly to improve health care for North Dakotans, the Senate must go back to the drawing board and seek real, bipartisan solutions that build on what works and fix what doesn’t. The Senate and House versions of this bill are simply too flawed to be fixed with a few Band-Aids.”

Dem-NPL statement on Sen. Hoeven opposing Republican health care bill

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to a CNN report that Sen. John Hoeven has come out against the Senate Republican health care bill, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider released the following statement:  

“Courage means standing up in the face of difficulty with moral strength. We’re glad Sen. Hoeven finally came out against the Republican health care bill – but doing so well after it became clear the bill as it stands won’t get a vote is the opposite of courage.

“Of course, this is much better than Kevin Cramer who continues to defend the bill despite overwhelming opposition from voters and medical professionals alike. He should listen to North Dakotans from every corner of the state who are seriously concerned about how this bill would impact them and join the rest of our federal delegation in opposing the bill. Hopefully they join Sen. Heitkamp in looking for ways to improve the health care system in a bipartisan way. That’s what North Dakotans deserve.”

Statement on new CBO estimate that GOP health bill cuts Medicaid by 35% over 20 yrs

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to a new CBO estimate showing the Senate health care bill would cut Medicaid by 35 percent over the next two decades, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“Just last month, Senator Hoeven said, ‘any reforms made to the Medicaid program should work for states, providers and those who rely on the program.’ He must not have been in the back room where they drafted the Republican health care bill in secret, because this legislation would slash Medicaid by nearly $800 billion in the first decade, and by 35 percent in the next 20 years. That means millions of Americans and thousands of North Dakotans will lose their health care, rural hospitals will be forced to close, and states will be increasingly burdened with steep additional costs. Senator Hoeven, will you protect North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid for their health care by voting NO on this cruel bill or any bill that slashes Medicaid?”  

Earlier in the week, the CBO released its official “score” of the Senate Republican health care bill, showing that 22 million Americans would lose health coverage, including 15 million who would lose Medicaid coverage. Additionally, out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans, working families and the elderly would skyrocket.

Rural hospitals in states like North Dakota rely heavily on Medicaid to keep their doors open and over 90,000 North Dakotans, including 36,000 North Dakotan children, have access to health care through Medicaid.

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CBO confirms: Senate health care bill just as cruel as House version

22 million lose health coverage; $770 billion cut from Medicaid; premiums for moderate-income 64 y/o increase from $6,800 to $20,500

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office today released its official analysis of the Senate Republican health care bill, showing that the legislation is just as cruel, if not crueler, than the version passed by the House.

“It didn’t seem possible, but judging from today’s CBO report, the Senate plan to strip health care from millions of Americans might be even meaner than the House version,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider. “This bill would increase costs and reduce the quality of care for working North Dakotans, those living in rural communities, senior citizens and hundreds of thousands of our friends, family members and neighbors who are living with pre-existing conditions. Meanwhile, it would give tax breaks to high-income earners and those who don’t need another handout from the government. There’s only one way to describe these impacts: cruel.”

 

22 million more uninsured Americans:

According to the CBO, the Senate Republican health care bill would result in 22 million additional Americans losing health coverage (compared to 23 million who would lose coverage under the House version), including 15 million who would lose coverage as soon as next year. 

Losses in health coverage wouldn’t just impact those who purchase insurance on the private market: Next year alone, four million Americans with employer-sponsored insurance would also lose their coverage under the Senate bill 

Huge premium increases: 

Under the legislation, lower-income Americans would be forced to pay more for skimpier health coverage and costs for older, moderate-income Americans would skyrocket; an average, 64-year-old with an income of $56,000 could expect to see their premiums increase from $6,800 under current law to $20,500 under the Senate bill.

Cuts $770 billion from Medicaid:

Like the House version, the Senate Republican health care bill effectively ends Medicaid expansion, and imposes severe cuts to traditional Medicaid funding. The bill eliminates a total of $772 billion or 26 percent of Medicaid funding, resulting in 15 million fewer Americans covered under the program.

This would be especially devastating to rural states like North Dakota where hospitals in remote communities rely on Medicaid funding to keep their doors open and over 90,000 North Dakotans, including 36,000 children, have access to health care through Medicaid.      

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Sen. Hoeven hides from his party’s cruel health care bill; Rep. Cramer lies about it

(BISMARCK, ND) – Senator John Hoeven and Rep. Kevin Cramer are each responding in their own way to yesterday’s report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office showing just how cruel the Republican health care plan really is: Hoeven has gone into hiding, and Cramer has decided to simply lie about it.

Following the CBO report, Senator Hoeven, in an unsurprisingly evasive and cagey statement, refused to take a position on the bill, saying only that the report “indicates this legislation needs additional work.”  

Even though the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation confirmed that, on average, North Dakotans would see their premiums increase by 76 percent under the Senate health care bill compared to current law, Cramer continues to debate facts. He went on national television and repeated flat-out falsehoods that, “People aren’t going to lose their health care.” This, despite the CBO showing that over 20 million people would lose their health care, and private-market insurance options would be substantially more expensive while offering skimpier levels of coverage.

To recap, yesterday’s CBO report on the Senate bill shows the following:

– 22 million Americans would lose their health insurance, including 15 million next year alone.

– 4 million Americans would lose their employer-based coverage in 2018 alone.

– Nearly 45 percent of tax cuts in the Senate bill would go to the top 1 percent (those making over $875,000), according to the Tax Policy Center.

Responding to Hoeven and Cramer, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider said the following:

“Senator Hoeven is hiding yet again so that he doesn’t have to defend himself to the North Dakotans who will be harmed by his refusal to protect their health care. And Kevin Cramer is lying yet again in an attempt to deceive North Dakotans about his vote to take away health coverage from millions of Americans while raising premiums for those of us who do get to keep our insurance. These circumstances would be sad if they weren’t so predictable.

The delay on the vote on the Senate health care bill reinforces why North Dakotans must continue to tell Hoeven and Cramer why this bill would be bad for our state, as they have been doing. We need to make sure any bill Congress passes actually works for North Dakota – and this bill absolutely does not.”

Kevin Cramer’s ‘Rescue Mission’: Tax cuts for the rich, paid for by gutting health care for working families

(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Kevin Cramer calls the Republican health care plan he helped author “a rescue mission.” He’s right, in one sense: Cramer’s bill would rescue wealthy individuals and special interests by giving them huge tax breaks paid for by gutting health coverage for working North Dakotans. 

According to the Fargo Forum, the Republican health care bill that passed the House “would eliminate health coverage for 30,100 North Dakotans, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan nonprofit group.” Additionally, under Cramer’s bill, an average 40-year-old North Dakotan would face increased premiums of about $800 per year, according to the nonpartisan Century Foundation. And, by imposing severe cuts to Medicaid, Cramer’s bill would force hundreds of rural hospitals in North Dakota and across the country to roll back their services or close their doors entirely.

However, the highest-income earners would indeed be “rescued” under Cramer’s bill. According to the Center for American Progress, North Dakota households with annual incomes over $1 million would receive tax cuts averaging $32,271 per year. Nationwide, the most affluent one percent would be “rescued” by nearly $400 million in tax breaks, including a capital-gains tax cut for wealthy individuals that would be retroactive to January of this year.

“Rep. Kevin Cramer’s so-called ‘health care’ bill isn’t about health care at all – it’s about tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, and handouts for special interests,” said Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider. “Cramer’s bill would ‘rescue’ those who are already well-off with more tax breaks, while forcing North Dakotans who are sick, elderly, or living in rural communities to pick up the tab. North Dakotan’s should be asking: Who is Kevin Cramer rescuing, and who is he leaving behind?”

Senate Republicans’ so-called ‘health care’ bill imposes even deeper cuts to Medicaid, cuts taxes for the wealthy

(BISMARCK, ND) – Today, Senate Republicans finally released the full text of their health care legislation, which was drafted behind closed doors in a highly secretive process without allowing public hearings.

Here’s what the bill’s details reveal:

Imposes even deeper cuts to Medicaid – The bill would impose even deeper cuts to Medicaid than the House version, which effectively eliminates Medicaid expansion and cuts funding for non-expansion Medicaid by $880 billion. In North Dakota, 20,000 individuals who gained health coverage through Medicaid expansion would stand to lose access to care. Additionally, tens of thousands of North Dakotans who depend on non-expansion Medicaid would face significantly reduced or eliminated coverage, including 36,000 low-income North Dakotan children. Critical care access hospitals throughout rural North Dakota also depend on Medicaid funding to help keep their doors open. 

Guts protections for patients with pre-existing conditions – The bill allows insurance companies to water down health care plans by allowing states to opt out of requiring “essential health benefits.” Essential health benefits cover services like maternity care, substance abuse treatment and behavioral health services, as well as other provisions that guarantee patients are provided quality coverage. As many as 300,000 North Dakotans have pre-existing conditions, which can include asthma, cancer, diabetes, or even being pregnant. These patients would face substantially increased health care costs, putting quality health care out of reach for many. 

Provides tax cuts for the wealthy – Perhaps the cruelest aspect of the Senate Republican health care bill is that it would devastate health coverage for tens of thousands of North Dakotan families – and millions of Americans nationwide – all while giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to the most affluent and special interests, like national insurance companies that pay their CEOs over $500,000. 

In response to the release of Senate Republicans’ health care bill, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider said:

“As expected, this legislation closely mirrors Kevin Cramer’s so-called ‘health care’ bill, which rips health coverage away from over 30,000 North Dakotans, while increasing premiums for average North Dakotans by about $800 per year. It would gut protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, increase out-of-pocket health care costs, and devastate Medicaid, which provides health coverage to 93,000 North Dakotans, including 36,000 children whose health care would be jeopardized. It does all of this while also cutting taxes for the most affluent individuals and special interests groups. That’s cruel, plain and simple, and it’s wrong for North Dakota.”  

Sen. Hoeven on public hearings for health care bill: ‘I don’t anticipate that.’

Hoeven refuses to call for public hearings on bill to strip coverage from tens of thousands of North Dakotans

 

(BISMARCK, ND) – Another day, and Senator John Hoeven still refuses to call for public hearings on a bill The Fargo Forum reports would strip health coverage away from 30,100 North Dakotans. The legislation being drafted behind closed doors by Senate Republicans is anticipated to come up for a vote as soon as next week, without any public hearings or consideration of bipartisan amendments.       

According to The Forum: “The Senate bill is being drafted in secret, without public hearings or the opportunity to offer amendments. Senators reportedly will have 10 hours to review the bill before voting on it.”

Appearing recently on KVLY-TV, Sen. Hoeven was asked bluntly: “Will there be hearings on this bill?” His response: “I don’t anticipate that.”  

In response, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider released the following statement:

“Here in North Dakota, we believe in an open process where laws are passed in full view of the public. Refusing to hold public hearings on a bill that threatens to rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans, while increasing out-of-pocket costs for hundreds of thousands more, simply isn’t the North Dakota way. We deserve better from our elected leaders. Sen. Hoeven, will you stand up for North Dakotans and demand they get to see what’s in the bill? Will you vote against this bill if it threatens to rip health coverage away from North Dakotan families as the House version would do?”

Trump is right.

President Trump calls Kevin Cramer’s ‘health care’ bill “Mean”

(BISMARCK, ND) – This week, in a meeting with Republican Senators, President Trump changed his tone regarding the ‘health care’ bill Congressman Cramer helped author, calling it “mean.”

In response, Democratic-NPL executive director Robert Haider issued the following statement:

“We happen to agree with the president. The so-called ‘health care’ bill Kevin Cramer helped author would be devastating for tens of thousands of North Dakotans. It would increase premiums next year by approximately $800 for the average 40-year-old North Dakotan. It would strip away protections for patients with pre-existing conditions. It would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and end Medicaid expansion. These aren’t just our opinions – it’s what every nonpartisan analysis of the legislation shows. Given these devastating effects, it’s no surprise that every major organization representing doctors, medical professionals and patients opposes Cramer’s bill. When it comes to protecting our health care, Kevin Cramer simply refuses to do what’s right for North Dakotans.”

Democratic-NPL leaders in North Dakota have previously used language similar to the president’s to describe the Republican ‘health care’ bill. In a statement issued last month following the CBO’s report that the Republican bill would force 23 million Americans to lose coverage while providing tax cuts for high-income earners, Senator Heidi Heitkamp called the legislation “downright mean.”

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Background:

GOP ‘health care’ bill would increase premiums by around $800 next year for North Dakotans: In its recent report, the CBO found that health insurance premiums would increase by an average of 20 percent in 2018, after which premiums would become highly volatile from state-to-state as markets become destabilized. In North Dakota in 2018, that would mean average increases in premiums of $794 – $871 for individuals who are roughly 40 years old, according to pricing data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Higher premiums would also disproportionately fall on working families and those with more severe health problems. In Morton, Burleigh, Oliver, Cass, Traill counties, insurance premiums for an average 40 year-old North Dakotan are estimated to increase by $794 in 2018. In the other 48 North Dakota counties, insurance premiums are estimated to increase by $871 in 2018.

GOP ‘health care’ bill would strip away protections for patients with pre-existing conditions: President Donald Trump made a similar claim to Pittenger’s, saying on April 30 that “pre-existing conditions are in the bill.” Politifact rated that Mostly False. Also Per Politifact: “If the AHCA passes, it would allow for people with pre-existing conditions to be charged more per year for their insurance coverage – possibly to the tune of thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars more per year, some studies have found.”

GOP ‘health care’ bill would slash hundreds of billions from Medicaid and effectively end Medicaid expansion: Many if not most of the 31 states that expanded Medicaid to low-income adults likely would end those coverage expansions if Congress ultimately approves the House Republican healthcare reform bill passed Thursday, state policy experts say. Healthcare leaders and experts in Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia predicted their states would terminate their expansions if Congress passed the American Health Care Act with its Medicaid provisions intact. They and national policy experts said they see very few states having the financial capacity or political will to maintain the expansions if the bill’s large cut in federal funding is enacted. 

Over 50 organizations representing doctors, medical professionals and patients oppose the GOP health care bill: Over 50 organizations oppose the proposed healthcare plan that will make Americans will pay more for less. The list includes nurses, doctors, hospitals, teachers, churches, and more. You can see a few here: AARP: AARP opposes this legislation, as introduced, that would weaken Medicare, leaving the door open to a voucher program that shifts costs and risks to seniors. American Medical Association: The American Health Care Act (AHCA), released by Congress this week, is intended to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). But as introduced, it does not align with the health reform objectives that the AMA set forth in January to protect patients. While the ACA is imperfect, the current version of the AHCA is not legislation we can support. […]