Country needs full health care justice

Rep. Glenn Thompson obfuscates painful reality if the tabled Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA, or Trumpcare) becomes law (CDT, 6/28).

He claims “victory” supposedly because 24 million are currently not covered by Obamacare, measured against 22 million who will lose coverage by 2026 under Trumpcare, when in fact my congressman is comparing apples and oranges

BCRA’s cuts come by defunding Medicaid, that hugely important program aiding the working poor, disabled and elderly in nursing homes, among others, and has little to do with anyone who is exempt, paying fines or currently going without insurance. Many of the latter will continue such status under Trumpcare. About 22 million additional Americans will be losing access to the lifesaving care, medication and treatment they need without paying outrageous sums or going into crushing debt if BCRA slashes Medicaid.

Shame especially on Sen. Pat Toomey, who co-wrote BCRA, if only because an estimated 700,000 of his constituents (many in the 5th Congressional District) would be thrown off Medicaid, possibly including my disabled son. Gov. Tom Wolf is correct when he calls the Senate version of Trumpcare “crueler” than the House plan because of “deeper and more devastating cuts to Medicaid.” Toomey’s bill will help the top 400 highest income households in Pennsylvania, while an estimated 28,600 to 52,750 American deaths would likely be avoided if Obamacare remains in effect.

What the country needs is single-payer legislation that emphasizes both the economic and moral reasons for health care justice.

This story was originally published July 2, 2017 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Country needs full health care justice."