Senate GOP Continues to Push Healthcare Repeal Legislation

Legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act took twists and turns over the last week and its future remains uncertain. Senate Republican leaders and the White House are continuing to try to secure enough support to enact their legislation, which is expected to receive a vote as early as this week. Under procedural rules, Republicans need only 50 votes to approve their healthcare repeal legislation.  With just 52 Republican senators, however, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) faces a slim margin of error.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate bill would cause 22 million people to lose health insurance and would slash Medicaid funding for supportive housing services that benefit people experiencing homelessness. The Senate bill, like the version passed by the House, would roll back Medicaid expansion, change the structure of the program, converting it into a block grant, and dramatically cut its funding. The bill also allows states to impose work requirements, higher premiums, and emergency room co-payments within Medicaid. These changes would be devastating for low income households, especially homeless individuals receiving supportive services through Medicaid.

NLIHC encourages all housing advocates to continue to call their Senators and urge them to oppose any healthcare bill that cuts, caps, or phases out Medicaid for millions of the lowest income people. This bill will be defeated if just three Republican Senators reject these cuts. Your calls can make the difference.