By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Friday, June 23, 2017, the Alabama Hospital Association released a statement opposing the Senate Republicans healthcare bill that was released on Thursday.
The Alabama Hospital Association wrote in a statement: “Alabama’s hospitals support meaningful reforms that will enhance our State’s health care delivery system and support access to quality care throughout our state. Unfortunately, the bill released yesterday by the US Senate, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, does not meet either objective.”
The Alabama Hospital Association warned, “In its current form, the proposal will place additional strain on an already fragile system. The number of uninsured Alabamians will increase, uncompensated care costs will rise and our economy will suffer. Hospitals, rural and urban, will be forced to take extreme measures to remain open. For a number of them, closing the doors for good will become the only option and access to care will be placed at great risk for every Alabamian, not just those covered by Medicaid.”
The Hospitals concluded, “Alabama’s hospitals provide quality care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to everyone who seeks it, regardless of the ability to pay. As the cornerstone of most communities, hospitals provide much more than health care. They are among the state’s largest employers, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and serving as the economic anchor to our state’s economy. The Alabama Hospital Association urges the US Senate to take a step back and start again in order to develop meaningful reforms that will support our health care system not destroy it.”
Senator Luther Strange (R) told Fox News, “The people of my state want Obamacare repealed and replaced. They are getting crushed. Worse than any other state in the union. We are in the top three in premium increases. The people of my state support President Trump, as I do very strongly. I am doing everything I can to support his agenda.” Strange said, “I am strongly optimistic that we are going to get it through (the Senate).”
US Senate candidate Roy Moore (R) also opposes the bill but for different reasons. Former Alabama Chief Justice Moore said, “As I stated over a month ago, I will oppose any bill that does not fully repeal Obamacare. We knew from day one that the concept of Obamacare was doomed to fail just as socialized medicine has failed in every country where it has been implemented.”
Moore and Strange are both candidates for Senate in the special election to replace Sen. Jeff Sessions (R).
US Representative Terri Sewell (D from Selma) said on social media, “Rural patients and hospitals need more support not less. I know we can do better than this on health care.”
President Donald J. Trump (R) has made repealing and replacing Obamacare on of his top legislative priorities.
