Trumpcare is Already Wreaking Havoc on American Health Care

Trumpcare is Already Wreaking Havoc on American Health Care

New Wyden Report Exposes Big Ugly Bill Leading to Jobs Cuts, Hospital Closures, and Rising Health Care Costs

Text of Report

Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a report detailing the consequences of Donald Trump and Republicans ramming through reckless legislation that includes the largest health care cuts in U.S. history.

"Trumpcare is threatening Americans' health care in every community across the country," Wyden said. "Thanks to Trump and Republicans in Congress, hospitals will be forced to close their doors, medical providers will lose their jobs, and patients will face skyrocketing health care costs. Instead of improving our health care system, Republicans would rather force a shutdown and burn it to the ground. I'm working around the clock to undo these devastating cuts to Medicaid and save middle-class tax credits for health care so that all families can get the care they need."

The Republican reconciliation bill cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), destabilizing the health care system and making care more expensive and harder to access for all Americans. The nonpartisan, independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) found that Republicans' health care cuts would directly terminate health insurance for 15 million Americans. Because of Republicans' cuts, patients will be forced to cover skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs or risk going without critical care.

Wyden's new report offers a snapshot of the immediate damage of Trumpcare:

1. Republicans' actions are causing immediate harm. Hospitals, clinics, and urgent care centers have already closed, which will only accelerate as funding dries up due to Trump and Republicans' cuts.

   • At least 36 hospitals nationwide have announced closures, many of which hurt rural communities. In Minnesota, six rural clinics will immediately shut down while a seventh will reduce its services, leaving thousands of people with no nearby access to a doctor.

2. Prenatal and reproductive care is especially hard-hit. Many hospitals are shuttering their maternal care, labor, delivery, and neonatal ICU wards, leaving mothers and families without options for care when emergencies arise.

   • A Michigan labor and delivery department will close, forcing patients to drive an additional 45 minutes for care.

   • Planned Parenthood is closing clinics in Ohio, Texas, and California, which will result in millions of women and families having nowhere to turn for critical health care services, including cancer screenings and reproductive care.

3. Doctors and medical staff are facing mass layoffs. Health care professionals are losing their jobs and livelihoods, while patients are losing medical expertise as a result of Trumpcare.

   • Oregon's Blue Mountain Hospital laid off nine staff members, citing Trumpcare.

   • Seattle Children's Hospital laid off 154 workers and eliminated over 350 positions in response to Trumpcare financial constraints.

   • New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital was forced to lay off more than 400 staff to compensate for funding shortfalls.

4. Patients will see higher health care costs. Thanks to Republicans refusing to extend the ACA premium tax credits, all enrollees will face higher premiums, and many will be forced to pay double for health care coverage.

   • Hundreds of thousands of people in Rhode Island and Maine will pay skyrocketing costs for health care coverage after the states approved rate increases to adjust for lost revenue.

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