Policy Matters Ohio statement on failure of health repeal to pass Senate 

Policy Matters Ohio Senior Project Director Wendy Patton on the U.S. Senate’s failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

Last night’s narrow defeat of the Senate “skinny repeal” bill is a huge victory, one that helps protect Ohio’s public health gains and sharp drop in uninsurance rates due to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). More than 723,000 Ohioans are covered under Medicaid expansion, which has been one of the state’s most important tools in battling the drug crisis. Thanks to the ACA, 5 million Ohioans with pre-existing conditions can’t be denied coverage and 4 million no longer have caps on lifetime health coverage.

Final passage of any of the bills that Congress debated would have done untold damage to coverage for Ohioans, especially our most vulnerable populations

Make no mistake: after this high-stakes loss for GOP leadership, we can expect continued attacks on Medicaid and the ACA from many angles. But right now, we thank the Representatives and Senators who stood up for affordable, accessible, quality health care coverage, and encourage constructive efforts to strengthen health care moving forward.