Planned Parenthood Applauds End of Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson Bill

Washington D.C. – Today, Wisconsinites breathed a sigh of relief as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced that there will be no vote on the disastrous Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill. The bill was the worst of the Affordable Care Act repeal bills yet, allowing insurance companies stop covering birth control, threatening maternity care for 13 million women, allowing insurance companies to charge more for pre-existing conditions, leaving at least 32 million people without health insurance, and preventing millions of people from getting essential care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Nonpartisan groups representing nearly every part of the health care industry expressed their vehement opposition, including insurance companies, doctors, patients, hospitals, and other patient-provider groups including America’s Health Insurance Plans, ACOG, American Medical Association, the President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and the American Heart Association.

Statement from Nicole Safar, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin:

“The Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill was a dangerous piece of legislation that would not only have blocked Planned Parenthood’s patients from preventive health care, but also threatened maternity and birth control coverage for women across the nation.

“Time and time again since House Speaker Paul Ryan announced plans to decimate health care access in January, Planned Parenthood supporters and patients have stepped up to show their opposition to multiple unpopular bills designed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and block patients from Planned Parenthood.

When our elected officials bet against women, they lose. They counted on people being too tired, too demoralized to keep fighting — but they were wrong. People across the country called their senators, demonstrated in their hometowns, wrote letters, and came to Washington, D.C., to meet with elected leaders to tell their stories. Because they spoke up, 32 million Americans will wake up tomorrow morning knowing they still have health care. More than 8,000 people will walk through Planned Parenthood’s doors tomorrow alone, still able to access the basic, preventive health care they rely on. Thirteen million women won’t have to worry about losing maternity care, breast cancer survivors will know they won’t be charged more for health insurance, and 57 million women will still have access to birth control.

“While today compassion and reason prevailed over partisan politics, we know this fight will continue. Instead of pushing legislation that would take health care away from millions, now is the time for Congress to work towards common sense, bipartisan health care solutions that put people first.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin. PPAWI engages in legislative and educational activity and works to elect candidates to office that support these goals.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.