WASHINGTON—In light of uncertainty about how the Senate will proceed
on health care in the coming days, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice,
Florida, Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and
Human Development, called on the Senate to fix problems with the
Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a more narrow way, rather than repeal it
without an adequate replacement.

“Before any legislation had
been proposed, the bishops were clear that a repeal of key provisions of
the Affordable Care Act ought not be undertaken without the concurrent
passage of a replacement plan that ensures access to adequate health
care for the millions of people who now rely upon it for their
wellbeing,” wrote Dewane in the July 20 letter to the full Senate. “To
end coverage for those who struggle every day without an adequate
alternative in place would be devastating.”

The Senate has been
discussing various approaches for health care reform, including an ACA
repeal approach that does not immediately decide upon a replacement
plan. “The American Health Care Act legislation from the U.S. House of
Representatives and the Better Care Reconciliation Act from the Senate
were seriously flawed, and would have harmed those most in need in
unacceptable ways. In the face of difficulties passing these proposals,
the appropriate response is not to create greater uncertainty,
especially for those who can bear it least, by repealing the ACA without
a replacement.

Bishop Dewane urged Congress “to address the
ACA’s moral deficiencies and challenges with long-term sustainability”
by “more narrow reforms, and in a bipartisan way.” Included in this
would be extending full Hyde Amendment protections to the ACA, enacting
laws that protect the conscience rights of all stakeholders in health
care, protecting religious freedom, and passing legislation that begins
to address barriers to access and affordability for the poor. The full
letter can be found at:
https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/health-care/letter-to-senate-on-affortable-care-act-2017-07-20.cfm

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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
USCCB, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human
Development, Affordable Care Act, ACA, Better Care Reconciliation Act,
BCRA., U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, health care reform,
Hyde Amendment, conscience rights, religious freedom, affordability.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Judy Keane
202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops