US Senate Bill Guts Medicaid, Jeopardizes Coverage for Millions of Americans and Would Destroy Jobs

Massachusetts’ largest healthcare union denounces “shameful” legislation that poses enormous health and economic risks for the Commonwealth

Boston, MA (June 22, 2017) – The following is a statement from Tyrék D. Lee Sr., Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, in response to the release of Senate Republicans’ healthcare bill:

“It should come as no surprise that Senate Republicans’ healthcare bill, crafted in the dark without a single public hearing, is a shameful piece of legislation that will have devastating consequences for millions of Americans.

This immoral bill provides massive tax cuts to the very wealthiest in this country and pays for them by slashing healthcare for millions of hardworking Americans. The legislation decimates Medicaid, cuts coverage, increases deductibles, weakens insurance protections and enables states to get rid of Essential Health Benefits that protect those with pre-existing conditions.

The impact on Massachusetts will be no less severe – jeopardizing coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents and threating the Commonwealth’s largest industry and one of its most important economic drivers. At the same time, our state stands to lose many of the health and economic gains we’ve achieved over the past decade, including having the lowest uninsured rate in the nation.

The stakes are incredibly high. If either the House or Senate version of this bill becomes law, millions of children, families and seniors across this country will have great difficulty accessing lifesaving care. We will continue fighting to defeat this cruel bill that will have catastrophic consequences for our state and this nation.”

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Representing more than 56,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and over 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.