January 6, 2016
WASHINGTON – Today, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement in opposition to budget reconciliation legislation passed in the House of Representatives that would repeal large sections of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), cut public health funding and attack women’s health providers. The bill passed the Senate in December 2015 and will now go to the White House, where President Obama has issued a veto threat.
“It is disappointing that Congress has voted to eliminate the same health coverage that millions of Americans benefit from every day,” said Kathy Ko Chin, APIAHF president and CEO. “While this bill will be vetoed by President Obama, the measure continues to underscore just how critical the ACA is to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities and the consequences that would result if we returned to a pre-health reform America. We will continue working to ensure all people have access to affordable health insurance, including the millions of AAs and NHPIs who are insured through the ACA.”
The budget reconciliation bill would repeal parts of the ACA and restrict federal health funding by:
- Eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund, cutting more than $15.5 million.
- Repealing the individual and employer mandates by making the fines $0.
- Eliminating the Medicaid expansion, impacting millions of low-income working adults in 28 states and DC.
- Eliminating the Cadillac tax on certain health plans and the medical device tax, which are both used to generate revenue.
- Cutting funding for family planning and abortion providers (Planned Parenthood) for one year.