Harmful Health Bill Leaves 22 Million Americans Uninsured

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2017
Contact: Christie Petrone, 646-520-3504, [email protected]

Statement by National Institute for Reproductive Health President Andrea Miller

New York (June 26, 2017)— “The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) score of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) confirms what we knew all along: that the bill before the Senate is not only harmful, it’s dangerous. In addition to leaving 22 million Americans uninsured by 2026, women will have severely limited access to birth control and abortion services, and 15% of low-income families in rural areas will be without care because they will be blocked from going to Planned Parenthood. This is unacceptable.”

As if to add insult to injury, the bill disproportionately targets low-income and elderly communities, making care unaffordable and out of reach. Furthermore, should states opt out of maternity coverage, new mothers could also suffer from steep price hikes and limited access to care. We can do and have done better. Under the Affordable Care Act, 55 million women gained access to birth control and our nation underscored its commitment to women’s health. However, once again, Americans are fighting for their reproductive rights and access to affordable health care.

On the campaign trail, President Trump promised to ‘Make America Great Again,’ yet the bill put forth by the Republican-led Senate promises to make our country far worse and leave millions of Americans fighting for their lives.

For its part, the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) will continue to pro-actively arm states and cities across the country with the tools they need to pass legislation that safeguards access to abortion and contraception, regardless of what happens at the federal level.

NIRH strongly urges the Senate to protect access to health care for the 22 million Americans who would lose coverage under the BCRA. Adoption of this bill would have a severe impact on women’s health care and their families’ economic stability.”

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