The Senate Health Care Bill – A Misguided Plan for Health Care Reform

Yesterday – after weeks of negotiations obscured in secrecy – the Senate health care bill was finally unveiled. But this draft legislation puts the health of moms and babies at risk.

The Senate bill will force women, in particular, to pay more out-of-pocket costs to get the care that they need before, during and after pregnancy by giving states the ability to design health benefit packages—eliminating protections for essential health services such as maternity care, childbirth and newborn and pediatric care.

The Senate bill will eliminate health insurance for millions of America’s most vulnerable people, including children, by fundamentally changing how Medicaid is financed and rolling back Medicaid funding.

The Senate bill will force hard-working families to pay more for lower quality insurance, endangering the health and well-being of women, infants and young children across America.

While Senate leadership is trying to cut federal spending, they are doing so at the expense of Americans’ health.

This is misguided policy, at best.

1,000 Days urges senators to find real solutions for America’s health care needs and focus on building a healthcare system that ensures all mothers, babies and toddlers in America have the care they need to thrive.