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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAlabama's rural hospitals would close under Trumpcare: Democrats (al.com)
Updated on June 30, 2017 at 11:50 AM Posted on June 30, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Alabama's rural hospitals would be forced to shutter or cut services to patients if the Senate passes its plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, state Senate Minority Leader Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, said Friday.
Ross is planning on holding town hall meetings on the implications of the Better Care Reconciliation Act, or "Trumpcare." The senator pointed to a study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that found 709,000 Alabamians would lose coverage under Trumpcare and the state would lose $1.1 million in Medicaid funding by 2022 if the bill passes Congress.
"At a time when we are already struggling to meet our current Medicaid needs, this new legislation would be devastating to healthcare as we know it in Alabama," Ross said in a statement. "Our already strapped rural hospitals will have to close down or deny vital services to our most rural citizens."
Ross said if Alabama would have chosen to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, it would have received $2.5 billion in federal funding -- dollars that could have been used to blunt the effects of Trumpcare if the legislation becomes law.
The Montgomery senator urged the state's U.S. senators -- Luther Strange and Richard Shelby -- to vote against Trumpcare when it is expected to get a vote after the July 4 recess.
"We must urge Sen. Luther Strange and Sen. Richard Shelby to vote no on this cruel piece of legislation," Ross said.
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more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/alabamas_rural_hospitals_would.html#incart_river_index
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)The voters of Alabama do not want rural hospitals. They have made this clear.
Now, either this is a democracy or it isn't. But they voted overwhelmingly for this result, and they are entitled to it.
Solly Mack
(90,740 posts)If they cared, this wouldn't even be an issue.
Aristus
(66,075 posts)But at the same time, if you vote for something, shouldn't you have to face the consequences of your choice?
Alabama, we told you not to vote for him, and this is why...
Ezior
(505 posts)But then I remember almost 35% voted for Hillary in Alabama. So no. Those hospitals are required.
guillaumeb
(42,641 posts)Allowing the GOP to avoid all responsibility.
And given that Trump voters are mainly those who are always fooled, this should not be too difficult.