• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Saturday, September 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Many still nervous after failed repeal of Obamacare

by MSR News Online
March 30, 2017
6
SHARES
129
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
(WhiteHouse.gov/MGN Online

 

With President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers signaling that they may make another attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare, supporters of the landmark healthcare legislation have had little time to enjoy the earlier failure of the GOP bill.

“We dodged a major bullet, but there’s quite a lot to be worried about,” said Marjorie Innocent, senior director of health programs for the NAACP. “We should still be vigilant and ready, because we don’t know what direction they’re going to take in the next round of efforts.”

Previously, Republicans had said they would not reconsider another attempt to repeal Obamacare.

“Obamacare is the law of the land,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said at a press conference following failed repeal effort. “We’re going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future.” Republican congressmen, however, have been in closed door meetings this week to discuss a new effort to replace the ACA.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

In response, Democratic senators sent Trump a letter March 29 asking him to abandon his and Republican efforts and instead, join them in trying to fix portions of the law that aren’t working well.

“We respectfully request that you abandon your efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and undermine the U.S. healthcare system so that we can work together to improve the law and lower the cost of healthcare for all Americans,” the letter said.

“To do that, your administration must commit to putting an end to all efforts to unravel the ACA, undermine the health care system, increase costs, or hurt patients, providers and families.”

White House spokesperson Sean Spicer said earlier in the week Pres. Trump is willing to work with Democrats to hammer out a health care compromise, but Democrats are skeptical.

“While we would welcome your sincere interest in bipartisan work to improve quality, lower costs, and expand coverage, we are concerned by your recent statement indicating it would be a good thing to make the ACA ‘explode,’” Democratic senators said in their letter. “Instead, we urge you to use your executive authority to support a stable, competitive insurance marketplace.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

California Congresswoman Karen Bass said she is ready for the fight.

“Whether a vote is coming up in the next few hours or the next few months, we will not stop standing up for those with pre-existing conditions and we will not stop making sure that individual market plans will continue to provide needed coverage,” the Democrats said.

More than 20 million people have been insured under Obamacare, according to government officials and various analysis.  According to a Gallup, Hispanics and African Americans benefited dramatically from the plan. Between 2013 and 2016, the percentage of African Americans without health insurance plunged by nearly half, from 20.9 percent being uninsured to 11.4 percent.

The Republican bill would have been a severe blow to African Americans, Innocent said.

The GOP plan to replace Obamacare would have potentially left 24 million Americans without insurance within 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency that provides budget and economic information to Congress. The number of Americans without healthcare would increase by 14 million by next year.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“Based on the direction of the reforms that were being proposed, things could’ve gotten very serious for African Americans,” Innocent said.

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman and Virginia Congressman Cedric Richmond agreed.  The Republican bill would have increased premiums, deductibles and out of pocket costs, “making healthcare unaffordable for tens of millions of Americans,” Richmond said.

Additionally, he said, the bill will secretly give the wealthiest Americans a tax break that the rest of the country will pay for.

The ACA has directly impacted African American communities by allocating $11 million to fund community health centers where African Americans make up nearly 25 percent of their patients.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

States would largely be affected by the reduction of federal funding for the expansion of Medicaid under the ACA, Innocent said.

“The most drastic changes that were proposed were related to the Medicaid program itself and funding for Medicaid,” Innocent said. “Congress wanted to cut back the federal funding, which would lead to states having less resources for the program. “This would leave states no choice but to cut back on services or enrollees.”

Innocent said as Congress examines efforts to broaden health insurance coverage, it should also consider solutions to broader issues that cause health care disparities.

“So much of our cost issues are born by the fact that we have an imbalance in people’s ability to pay for care and people’s ability to get coverage, and these often affect people of color and low income families,” she said. “We need to reform a lot of broader social policies to maximize the opportunities to experience good health.”

California Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat, said she is grateful the Republican bill failed, but said she believes there’s much work to be done.

“This is a testament to the millions of Americans who stood up and spoke out to reject the idea that healthcare is a privilege and not a right,” Harris said in a statement.

“This sends a clear message to President Trump and Republicans. We will not cut the deficit by cutting care. Our constituents sent us to Washington to help improve the lives of all Americans, whether we’re Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. It’s time we do that.

 

Thanks to the Howard News Service for sharing this story with us.

 

 

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Eight things to consider when choosing a trash can

Next Post

Recalling a great Gopher run now 20 years past

MSR News Online

Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.

You Might Also Like

Kamala Harris stands strong against racist attacks, affirms readiness to lead
National

Kamala Harris stands strong against racist attacks, affirms readiness to lead

Even CNN employees and Republicans panned Trump’s disastrous town hall
National

Even CNN employees and Republicans panned Trump’s disastrous town hall

National

Republicans feeling the heat in Tennessee as council votes to return Justin Jones to State House

Rep. Omar defends her service on Foreign Affairs
Featured

Rep. Omar defends her service on Foreign Affairs

Increasing access to health care is good for everyone
Health & Wellness

Increasing access to health care is good for everyone

The whitewashing of King’s message and legacy
MLK Legacy Section

Some never tire of abusing Dr. King’s legacy

Next Post
Recalling a great Gopher run now 20 years past

Recalling a great Gopher run now 20 years past

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 22
September 22 @ 5:00 pm-September 23 @ 8:30 pm

9th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Sep 23
10:00 am-1:00 pm

Expanding Diversity Career Fair

Sep 23
7:30 pm-9:00 pm Recurring

Michhil Amra | We Are The Procession

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: