WASHINGTON—Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida,
Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human
Development, has provided a more detailed critique of the Senate “discussion
draft” health care bill, dubbed the “Better Care Reconciliation Act”
(BCRA).

“Removing vital coverage for those most in need is not
the answer to our nation’s health care problems, and doing so will not help us
build toward the common good,” said Bishop Dewane. “For the sake of persons living on the
margins of our health care system, we call on the Senate to reject changes
intended to fundamentally alter the social safety net for millions of people.”

The BCRA was introduced in discussion draft format on
June 22, 2017, and is the Senate’s working heath care proposal. Bishop Dewane again highlighted the need for
lawmakers to withhold support for provisions that would harm poor and
vulnerable people, including changes to Medicaid, in the June 27 letter. He also stressed the need for protections for
the unborn in the bill, indicating that “[s]afeguards pertaining to the use of
tax credits for plans that include abortion face steep challenges,” and that the
BCRA “needs to be strengthened to fully apply the longstanding and
widely-supported Hyde amendment protections.”
Bishop Dewane also noted that coverage for immigrants and conscience
protections were lacking in the BCRA.

“The BCRA’s restructuring of Medicaid will adversely
impact those already in deep health poverty,” warned Bishop Dewane. “At a time
when tax cuts that would seem to benefit the wealthy and increases in other
areas of federal spending, such as defense, are being contemplated, placing a
‘per capita cap’ on medical coverage for the poor is unconscionable.”

The full letter can be found at: https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/health-care/upload/senate-discussion-letter-health-care-reform-2017-06-27.pdf

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, USCCB, Better Care Reconciliation Act, BCRA, Bishop Frank J. Dewane,
Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Affordable Care Act, respect
for life, human dignity, health care, affordability, abortion, poverty,
immigration, conscience.

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Media Contact:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops