Sep. 27, 2017
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| During a press conference at the state Capitol today in Harrisburg, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) led a broad coalition of health-related organizations in expressing their concern over passage of potential federal health care legislation. Although the Graham-Cassidy amendment will not come up for a vote in the near term, DiGirolamo and the group discussed how many of the provisions within would harm Pennsylvanians’ health care and access. |
HARRISBURG – Citing the thousands of people who would be impacted and the increased costs to the Commonwealth, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) led a broad coalition of health-related organizations in expressing their concern over passage of potential federal health care legislation.
While the U.S. Senate has announced that the Graham-Cassidy amendment will not be voted on in the near future, DiGirolamo is concerned that several notable provisions with respect to Medicaid and its expansion could still be part of the health care repeal conversation. DiGirolamo was joined by more than a dozen health-related organizations at a press conference on Wednesday to discuss any potential impact on Pennsylvania.
As chairman of the House Human Services Committee, DiGirolamo said that if Graham-Cassidy had passed or if a similar version would pass to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Pennsylvania stands to be one of the biggest losers.
“Since the ACA allowed for the expansion of Medicaid, thousands more Pennsylvania residents and families have had more affordable and accessible health care – health care that would almost certainly disappear if Graham-Cassidy or similar legislation is enacted,” DiGirolamo said. “Medicaid expansion has not only allowed Pennsylvania residents and their families to get health care coverage, but has permitted many more to access critical, life-saving services, such as treatment for mental health and drug and alcohol addiction. I’m greatly concerned this federal legislation would wipe away all the gains we’ve made to get people the care and services they need.”
To hear more of DiGirolamo’s comments, click here.
Under the federal proposal, the payment structure of Medicaid would have been funded using a per capita cap, which would have led to significant cuts and states having to make drastic decisions on which programs to keep. The bill would have also ended Medicaid expansion by 2020.
“Essentially, Graham-Cassidy would have relegated much of health care management and authority to the states, but with fewer resources to do so,” DiGirolamo continued. “Pennsylvania is already in the midst of a precarious financial situation, and the federal government adding to our fiscal burden is poor public policy that will have led to disastrous consequences.
“As we stand here today, I know that wiser heads have prevailed in Washington, D.C., but that does not mean our fight is over,” he continued. “I am hopeful that we can work together, in a bipartisan way, to maintain the strengths from the ACA and better address the weaknesses so that we can all have a health care system of which we can be proud.”
Representative Gene DiGirolamo
18th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
717.705.2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
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