Last week, thousands of Americans rallied to save healthcare in the face of congressional Republicans’ efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and the protections it provides. This could mean loss of coverage for at least 30 million people. People with pre-existing conditions could be dropped from their plans, and young adults would be forced to shop for higher-cost individual coverage if they are kicked off their parents’ plans. And this is just the beginning.
President Donald Trump has nominated Tom Price to carry out his destructive policies as head of the Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed, Price could gut the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions without coverage, and turn programs like Medicare and Medicaid into vouchers and block grants. By transforming the guarantee of Medicare from a right into a commodity, he would throw the entire healthcare system into chaos and confusion.
Americans need to know what Price’s plans are for their healthcare. And it’s the Senate’s job to ask hard questions and demand full answers from all nominees—especially when it comes to something as important as our health.
We want to make sure our senators and the public understand the real questions Price needs to be asked. Will you help by sharing them on Twitter? Just click the links below to tweet:
#Questions4Tom: Will the 20million people who have gained health insurance bc of #ACA continue to have health insurance under your repeal?
#Questions4Tom: What would happen to those deemed “high risk” who currently depend on #ACA provisions to access healthcare?
#Questions4Tom: Is it true that you believe the #ACA ban on discriminating against people with preexisting conditions is a terrible idea?
#Questions4Tom: Would you agree that eliminating Medicaid expansion will have an adverse impact on health outcomes for people of color?
#Questions4Tom: How will you ensure safe staffing levels and quality care given the imminent shortage of nurses?
#Questions4Tom: Would you raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67, as has been reported?
#Questions4Tom: Do you support turning Medicare into a voucher system and Medicaid into a block grant?
#Questions4Tom: How will the Admin for Children and Families at HHS coordinate with the Office of Early Learning at the Department of Ed?
#Questions4Tom: You voted to allow Head Start agencies to use religion as a factor for employment. Would you advocate for the same at HHS?
#Questions4Tom: Does the $243k in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical or med device industry have any bearing on your priorities?
AFT members have already helped deliver 500,000 petitions opposing Price’s nomination, and we watched his first Senate committee hearing, where he dodged the questions he was asked. He failed to say whether he would protect access to care for patients with chronic illnesses, or whether he planned to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. He even refused to say whether he violated the law when he bought medical company stocks shortly before championing legislation to help those very companies.
We have a moral obligation to fight Price’s nomination. This week, he will take the next step in the confirmation process and be questioned by the Senate Finance Committee. We need to make sure our questions are asked and answered. Tweet your #Questions4Tom today.
It is irresponsible to hand over the Department of Health and Human Services to someone who opposes the Affordable Care Act; has proposed deep cuts to the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare and Medicaid; and wants to gut protections for LGBTQ people, women and the most vulnerable Americans.
And handing over the department to someone who has proposed big taxes on employer-based coverage—which would allow employers to offer skimpier plans with higher out-of-pocket costs and would make Americans of every generation more vulnerable—will put our health and financial security at risk.
If we’re serious about protecting the ACA and access to healthcare for our communities, we must fight to keep Price from being confirmed. Tweet your #Questions4Tom today.
