WASHINGTON – Ohio lawmakers are giving mixed reviews to a bill approved by the House Thursday that scuttles much of President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Nine Ohio Republicans, including Steve Stivers and Pat Tiberi of central Ohio, voted for the measure while all four Democrats, including Joyce Beatty, of Columbus, voted no.
Gov. John Kasich tweeted that the measure falls “woefully short” of what is needed to maintain health care.
The bill’s pathway through the Senate will be at least as bumpy. And there’s little doubt the measure will change, assuming it survives. Both of Ohio’s senators – Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Sherrod Brown — have voiced opposition to the measure as it is currently written.
US Sen Sherrod Brown: “This bill is heartless.”
“I agree with Governor Kasich: we cannot allow Washington politicians with taxpayer-funded health insurance to rip coverage away from Ohioans who are battling cancer, getting regular checkups for the first time or finally getting treatment for their opioid addiction. This bill threatens the healthcare coverage of nearly 1 million Ohioans, including 200,000 currently battling addiction, and allows companies to jack up prices on people with preexisting conditions like asthma and diabetes. This bill is heartless, it is bad for Ohio, and it will leave real Ohioans struggling to afford care. Instead of taking care away, we should be working to reduce the price of prescription drugs and improve care for everyone.” – Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
“I’ve already made clear that I don’t support the House bill as currently constructed.” -US Sen Rob Portman
“The status quo on health care is unsustainable. Premiums and deductibles continue their steep climb, and the skyrocketing cost of health care is hurting Ohio families and small businesses. There’s only one insurance company in more than one third of Ohio counties, which is leaving Ohioans with fewer choices and higher costs. Congress must take responsible action that lowers health care costs, but these changes must be made in a way that does not leave people behind. I’ve already made clear that I don’t support the House bill as currently constructed because I continue to have concerns that this bill does not do enough to protect Ohio’s Medicaid expansion population, especially those who are receiving treatment for heroin and prescription drug abuse. We have an opioid crisis in this country, and I’m going to continue to work with my colleagues on solutions that ensure that those who are impacted by this epidemic can continue to receive treatment.” – Sen Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
Senators are already talking about preventing some of the House bill’s Medicaid cuts. Some don’t like its easing of Obama coverage requirements on insurers, and others think its tax credits must be redirected toward lower-income people.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah says senators must focus “on the art of the doable.”
Analysts have predicted the bill would mean 24 million Americans, including 964,000 Ohioans, would lose health insurance coverage.
“This fight to fix our health care system isn’t over. As the Senate considers the reforms in AHCA, I urge my colleagues in the House and the Trump administration to continue to focus on additional steps we can take to restore the free market, increase choices, lower costs and put Medicaid on a sustainable financial path so it is available for the most vulnerable patients. After seven years of Obamacare’s broken promises, my constituents and all Americans deserve no less.” –Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Genoa Twp.)
Americans with serious illnesses are feeling uneasy as the bill leaves those with pre-existing conditions fearful of higher premiums and losing coverage altogether if the Affordable Care Act is replaced. The liberal-leaning Policy Matters Ohio claims that 1.2 million Ohioans with diabetes, asthma, heart conditions, hypertension and other conditions would lose their guaranteed coverage through Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
“Today, I stood with countless Americans everywhere who oppose Trumpcare by voting against this misguided bill that was hastily-written. Trumpcare will be a prescription for disaster for more than 129 million Americans with pre-existing conditions—not to mention seniors, women, people with disabilities, students with disabilities and working families. Trumpcare will strip healthcare away from at least 24 million Americans, including nearly one million Ohioans, and provides a totally unnecessary tax cut to the super wealthy. The American people spoke out—healthcare should be a right for all, not just the privileged few.” –Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus)
The bill proposes setting aside an additional $8 billion over five years to help states cover those who may be subject to higher insurance rates because they’ve had a lapse in coverage. That’s on top of about $100 billion over a decade for states to help people afford coverage and stabilize insurance markets.
Experts say the problem is that the money is unlikely to guarantee an affordable alternative for those who get coverage under a popular provision of the Affordable Care Act, under which insurers can’t reject people or charge higher rates based on their health.
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