Today the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of a Senate Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The CBO’s report concluded that the bill would leave 22 million more Americans uninsured over the next decade. It also verified that the bill would reduce spending on Medicaid by 25% during that same period. The Senate is expected to take a procedural vote early next week to determine whether this bill or any other repeal bills can be brought to the floor for a vote.

In response to the latest CBO score, CHCF President and CEO Sandra R. Hernández issued the following statement.

“For all the talk about what is different about the Senate’s latest proposal, what is shocking is what remains unchanged: This bill still dismantles Medicaid as we know it. The new CBO score makes that abundantly clear.

“The bill would still roll back the expansion of Medicaid and cut the overall program by over $750 billion over the next decade. That would seriously harm California’s ability to provide care to its most vulnerable citizens and bring greater instability to the broader health care market.

“Medicaid is vital to the well-being of our state and our country. More than 70 million Americans depend on it every day. It provides necessary care and security to one in three Californians, including poor children, seniors, people with disabilities, and workers with low incomes. It is popular among California enrollees and voters alike.

“Health care is not a political game. It’s a matter of life and death for American families. The decisions that our Congressional leaders make in the coming days and weeks will have profound consequences on future generations. What makes a country great is its willingness to care for its people, especially the most vulnerable.

“Let us hope the choice they make is worthy of a great nation.”

The following resources may help explain the impact of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act:

• A June survey of Californians, which shows strong support for the Affordable Care Act, Medi-Cal, and essential health benefits that address behavioral health.
• County-by-county data showing the number of California seniors and people with disabilities covered under Medi-Cal.
• Medi-Cal Matters, which summarizes important data about California’s Medicaid program.
• An explanation of how a Medicaid per capita cap works and how it would impact Californians.

For more information, please see CHCF’s existing list of data resources and analysis of the potential impact of ACA repeal on California. Or contact Eric Antebi.

About the California Health Care Foundation