For Immediate Release
May 4, 2017

Contact: Jeananne Sciabarra, 410-591-3611

Press Statement from Consumer Health First on Republican Repeal of the Affordable Care Act

Bill will strip coverage from millions, endanger Medicaid and make healthcare less affordable
The Republican-led House of Representatives voted today to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with legislation that will likely strip coverage from millions of Americans, gut Medicaid and make care less affordable and accessible, especially for lower-income, older and sicker individuals and families. Jeananne Sciabarra, executive director of Consumer Health First, has issued the following statement:

“We are extremely disappointed in the outcome of the healthcare vote in the House of Representatives today. Without a score from the Congressional Budget Office, without any public input whatsoever, House Republicans have moved to strip coverage from millions of Americans, including hundreds of thousands of Marylanders, and make healthcare less affordable and less accessible, especially for our most vulnerable citizens. Congress has shown that it cares more about giving tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy than the well-being of everyday Americans.

“We are also very disappointed in Representative Andy Harris, the lone Maryland lawmaker to vote for this bill, for selling out the needs of his constituents and enabling the House to endanger Maryland’s Medicaid program. 

“We want to thank our Democratic representatives for standing up against this bill, and we call now on the Senate, including Maryland’s Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, to do everything they can to stop this bill from moving any further. We also urge Governor Hogan to strongly oppose any federal attempts to undermine our healthcare system, including any rollbacks to Medicaid. 

“Consumer Health First will continue to speak out against any attacks to Marylanders’ healthcare and we remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Marylanders.”

###

Consumer Health First is a statewide, non-partisan, grassroots alliance of 100 organizations and more than 1,800 individuals that seeks solutions and advances reforms that promote health equity through access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality health care for all Marylanders. For more information, visit www.consumerhealthfirst.org