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Letter To The Editor Encouraging Bipartisan Health Care Reform
November 10, 2017
I have been encouraged by the start of bipartisan work in Congress on potential health care solutions.
Recently, I’ve heard policy experts as well as current and former governors across the country say that existing insurance marketplaces can be strengthened and that the state-federal Medicaid partnership can be improved without a repeal of the health care law as a starting point.
We must work to stabilize and not disrupt the health care markets. Disruption could cause continued uncertainty for millions of Americans who rely on steady access to health coverage for lifesaving care.
I urge Sens. Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse to focus on these bipartisan, practical efforts and oppose the potentially harmful new proposal from Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy.
Like the other recent repeal and replace proposals in the Senate, this latest, last-ditch effort completely fails to protect cancer patients and millions of other Americans who could lose their coverage and access to affordable health care. It would roll back Essential Health Benefits, destabilize the individual health care marketplace and drastically cut funding to the Medicaid program.
Now is the time to return to regular order and work together to look for bipartisan solutions to strengthen the health care market. Cancer patients, survivors and their families are tired of the uncertainty.
I urge Congress to oppose the Graham-Cassidy bill and instead look forward and work together to improve access to affordable and adequate health coverage for all Americans.
Kathy Ward, Lincoln
Volunteer, American Cancer Society
http://journalstar.com/opinion/letters/letter-health-care-reform-must-be...