Issued March 24, 2017
WASHINGTON, DC – The Chairperson of the Nurse Alliance of SEIU Healthcare, Dian Palmer, RN, issued the following statement following the vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and end Medicaid as we know it:
“Nurses and working people across the country made our voices heard to stop House Republicans from taking away healthcare from 24 million Americans and ending Medicaid as we know it.
“But throughout all the political efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, not one person gained peace of mind, or better coverage. Instead it left our patients fearful of being denied care or what it would cost if they or their loved one got sick. The American Health Care Act would have added millions more to the number of Americans without healthcare coverage. It would have unraveled the Medicaid safety net for the seniors, people with disabilities and Medicaid who need care the most.
“Rather than trying to tear the healthcare system apart, our elected officials should work together to fix what is broken. Nurses across the country will continue to stand with concerned patients, our families and neighbors to advocate for better patient outcomes, protect Medicaid and make high quality healthcare affordable to all.”
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The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million diverse members, including 80,000 registered nurses, in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. SEIU members working in the healthcare industry, in the public sector and in property services believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits and to create better communities while fighting for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy.
www.seiu.org