By Mark Pattison
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The American Health Care Act that passed by a four-vote margin May 4 in the House has “major defects,” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Social Development.
“It is deeply disappointing that the voices of those who will be most severely impacted were not heeded,” Bishop Dewane said. “The AHCA does offer critical life protections, and our health care system desperately needs these safeguards. But still, vulnerable people must not be left in poor and worsening circumstances as Congress attempts to fix the current and impending problems with the Affordable Care Act.”
He added, “When the Senate takes up the AHCA, it must act decisively to remove the harmful proposals from the bill that will affect low-income people – including immigrants – as well as add vital conscience protections, or begin reform efforts anew. Our health care policy must honor all human life and dignity from con-
ception to natural death, as well as defend the sincerely held moral and religious beliefs of those who have any role in the health care system.”
One of 20 Republicans to vote against the bill was Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, co-chair of the Congressional Pro- Life Caucus.
“I voted no on the AHCA largely because it cuts Medicaid funding by $839 billion; undercuts essential health benefits such as maternity care, newborn care, hos- pitalization and pediatric services; includes ‘per capita caps’ and weakens coverage for pre-existing health conditions – all of which will hurt disabled persons, especially and including children and adults with autism, the elderly and the working poor,” Smith said.
“Over the past several years, we have seen the flaws of Obamacare, including increased premiums and deductibles, diminishing health care options and patients losing plans they were assured they could keep. These very real problems underscore the need for meaningful bipartisan reform,” Smith added.
Those opposing the bill cited reduc- tions in coverage and cost increases. Those favoring the bill cited its pro-life provisions.
“The vote falls far short of protecting the millions of Americans who have insur- ance or gained it under the Affordable Care Act,” said Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “It also fails to provide access to affordable health care for the mil- lions who still live without coverage.”
“The role of health care should implicitly be to provide the highest quality care for the largest number of people, in the interest of maintaining dignity and quality of life, as our faith calls us to do. It is immoral to restrict access to care for any- one, but especially for the most vulnerable, including those who need consistent treat- ment and our aging population, said Patrick Carolan, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network.
“As arguably the most powerful, developed country in the world, it is inex- cusable that our health care system is fail- ing so many,” Carolan said.
“The passage of the American Health Care Act in the House is a dangerous and irresponsible step that threatens access to health care for at least 24 million Americans. It violates Christian and Catholic faith teaching and the values of our nation,” said Sister Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service who is executive director of Network, a Catholic social justice lobby.
“This was not the faithful way forward,” she added. “We are hurting our people and rewarding the rich through tax breaks disguised as a health care reform bill. This is literal ‘blood money.’ The blood of those who are denied coverage will be on the hands of those who voted for this bill.”
“Today’s House vote marks the beginning of the end of the shell game Planned Parenthood plays with public money. That the American Health Care Act limits Medicaid funds to entities that don’t kill people is entirely appropriate, not to men- tion a step that’s long overdue,” said Father Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life.
“Sending hundreds of millions of dollars a year to an organization that dismembers 320,000 unborn babies a year adds up to a travesty of justice,” he added. “The Senate should approve the defunding legislation as soon as possible and send it to the president’s desk. The scam of using public money to prop up abortion businesses needs to be terminated.”
“Abortion is not health care, and in light of that – this bill provides Hyde (Amendment)-like protections and redirects funding away from our America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, to community health centers that offer comprehensive women’s care.”