Magaziner and Amo Join Health Care Leaders to Call for Urgent Action to Address Health Care Affordability Crisis

WARWICK, RI - Today, U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner (RI-02) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) joined Rhode Island health care leaders to call for urgent action to address the rising cost of health insurance in the state. This includes extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that help millions of Americans afford their health insurance, and restoring critical funding for Medicaid and medical research.

This event comes as Affordable Care Act health care tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year unless Congress Acts. The credits currently help 22 million Americans, including more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders who have commercial insurance plans through HealthSource RI, afford their health coverage. The group emphasized that, if they expire, working people will face steep premium increases, and the loss of federal health care funding will ripple through our health care system, impacting hospitals and providers and raising health insurance costs for everyone. In addition, health care costs are rising due to deep cuts to Medicaid passed by Congressional Republicans earlier this year, which will kick 15 million people off their health insurance. All these factors are contributing to a health care affordability crisis.

This call also comes as Congress debates government funding legislation ahead of a September 30th deadline, with health care affordability at the center of the conversation. Magaziner and Amo reiterated during the event that they are ready to support a budget that protects health care and lowers costs for Rhode Islanders. But Republicans in control of Congress and the White House have refused to negotiate, risking a government shutdown.

Leaders at the event highlighted how letting these health care tax credits expire, cuts to Medicaid, and less funding for medical research are raising health care costs for patients and putting strain on Rhode Island's entire health care system.

"Every Rhode Islander deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care. But right now, too many people are facing a health care affordability crisis," said Magaziner. "I am ready to vote for a budget that lowers costs and strengthens the state's health care system, and I am joining health care leaders in calling on President Trump and Republicans in Congress to do the same for the American people."

"Congressional Republicans and Donald Trump are once again trying to undermine health care for millions of Americans, forcing working families across Rhode Island to decide between health care and meeting their other needs," said Amo. "I'm proud to stand with Congressman Magaziner and health leaders in our state to fight for a deal that lowers costs."

"Protecting Rhode Islanders' ability to seek the mental and physical health care services they need to lead healthy, productive lives is core to HSRI's mission and to the good of our state," said Lindsay Lang, director of HealthSource RI. "We know that with the loss of this assistance, thousands of individuals and families will lose their health insurance here in Rhode Island, as well as millions across the country. We worry about our neighbors facing insurmountable medical costs or suffering serious health impacts from avoiding or delaying care as a result. It is vital that we continue to offer the resources needed to keep people connected to quality coverage."

"For those choosing Neighborhood through HealthSource RI, 89% received premium tax credits. Tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders will be impacted by the loss of enhanced tax credits - some devastatingly so with increases of hundreds of dollars a month in premium costs. The federal premium tax credits support access to health insurance coverage for those who need it most - folks who have no wiggle room in their household budgets to account for increases this large," said Peter Marino, President and CEO, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island.

"Allowing the enhanced premium tax credits to expire would accelerate Rhode Island's health care crisis - with patients, caregivers, and hospitals all paying the price. When people lose coverage, care is delayed and conditions worsen - leaving patients sicker and hospitals facing more complex, expensive cases," said Michael Sroczynski, President of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island.

"If we don't do something to prevent the cuts to the tax credits and prevent the cuts to Medicaid, that will be the final blow for Rhode Island's healthcare system. We will be returning to a time when thousands of Rhode Islanders didn't have health insurance," said Lynn Blais, President of United Nurses & Allied Professionals (UNAP). "Thank you, Congressman Magaziner and Congressman Amo for continuing to fight for all Rhode Islanders and for trying to protect our healthcare system."

You can view or download photos from the event here.

You can view a full recording of the event here.