Frankel: Whatever happens today, Trumpcare would be terrible for Pa.

Rep. Dan B. Frankel    March 24, 2017 | 2:43 PM

HARRISBURG, March 24 – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, provided the following statement about the Republican "Trumpcare" bill that was expected to get a U.S. House vote today:

"Whatever happens today with the Trumpcare bill, we already know what a disaster it would be for Pennsylvania. Statewide, 1.1 million people would lose their health coverage, and others would pay much higher costs for essential benefits like maternity care. If you vote for that, it's time to stop calling yourself 'pro-life.'

"Republicans have had seven years to come up with something better than the Affordable Care Act. If they were as serious about health care as they are about more tax breaks for the wealthy, they would work with Democrats to make improvements to the Affordable Care Act, such as a public option that would provide more choice and competition to rein in costs for patients."

Frankel provided these facts on gains from the Affordable Care Act that are at risk from the Republican health care bill:

  • 715,000 people gained coverage through the ACA's Medicaid expansion, including almost 60,000 people in Allegheny County.
  • Pennsylvania currently has the lowest uninsured rate in the state's history - 6.4 percent overall and a 4.1 percent uninsured rate for children.
  • 124,000 people with a substance-use disorder were able to gain access to drug and alcohol services.
  • Importantly for jobs in the Pittsburgh region, general acute-care hospitals saw a $92 million decrease in uncompensated care. This was the first time the amount of uncompensated care fell since 2001.
  • $1.8 billion in payments to health-care providers and the addition of 15,500 jobs in Pennsylvania.

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