Udall: GOP Bill that would Cancel Health Care for 14 Million Americans in 1 Year is 'Inhumane and a Disaster'

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that the bill by President Trump and congressional Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) would cancel health care for 14 million people in just one year, with 24 million losing care by 2026.

"President Trump promised that Republicans would ensure every American got health care. If he still believes that, then the Republicans' health care bill should be scrapped right now. If that bill became law, by next year alone, 14 million Americans would lose the ability to see a doctor when they're sick, and 24 million would lose their health care by 2026. Combined with cruel cuts to Medicaid, women's health care services, and mental health and substance abuse services; the addition of tax breaks for the wealthiest 0.1 percent; and the inability to address major problems in our health care system, like outrageous prescription drug prices and the cost of nursing home care - this bill is a failure.

"I will stand up against any plan that would hurt New Mexicans and reduce the quality in our current health care system. And my biggest concern is how this bill would hurt New Mexico families and our economy, particularly working families who qualify for Medicaid because it was expanded under Obamacare. The Republican bill resorts to hocus-pocus when it comes to these families, claiming to provide care, but actually slashing an estimated $880 billion over the next 10 years, and cutting Medicaid for an estimated 14 million people by 2026, including the millions of people whose eligibility fluctuates from year to year. Based on our early analysis, all of the 235,000 New Mexicans who gained health insurance under Obamacare's Medicaid expansion could lose their care under the Republican plan.

"I'm also deeply concerned about the impact the Republican bill would have on our state's economy. This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that New Mexico now has the highest unemployment rate in the nation, 6.7 percent. New Mexico has seen the slowest recovery from the recession, but thanks to Obamacare, one of the few bright spots has been in health - seven of the 10 fastest-growing fields is health care. But the Republicans' repeal and replace scheme would cost our state up to 19,000 jobs and $2.2 billion in funding, a hit that could throw us back into recession.

"President Trump and Republicans just don't get it; they say families just have to make choices about what's important. Here's the reality: thousands of New Mexicans don't have choices. Working moms and dads are raising families on one, two or three hourly wage jobs that don't offer health insurance. If they're out for a week or a day taking care of a sick child or parent, they lose wages - and potentially their job. Thanks to Obamacare, they've had a little peace of mind because they've been able to see a doctor if they need to. Without coverage, these New Mexicans will again be left without preventive care and a regular doctor - that is inhumane and a disaster for families, public health, our rural hospitals and the communities they serve."