New Republican healthcare bill will harm those living with HIV

Republicans are attempting one last effort to overhaul healthcare — and it will harm the LGBTI community and those living with HIV.

Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced the bill. Hailed as the Graham-Cassidy Bill, it’s the last chance on the table to overhaul healthcare in the United States. Dean Heller of Nevada and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are co-sponsoring the bill.

However, Republicans only have two week to pass it as they quickly approach a 30 September deadline. This includes the fact that the Congressional Budget Office have yet to release an analysis of the bill, which Democrats caution against.

The future of the bill is up in the air, but it’s important to understand what it would do should it pass.

Unsurprisingly, the bill would repeal mandates and loosen regulations on pre-existing conditions. These elements have been constant refrains of Republicans when speaking about repealing Obamacare.

It also completely overhauls funding for Medicaid, the social healthcare service. The bill kills Medicaid expansion and instead gives states a block grant, to do with what they please. Plus, it requires adult recipients of Medicaid to work.

Finally, as a mainstay of Republican efforts, it would also defend Planned Parenthood.

A devastating impact

‘Like the cliché movie monster who suddenly comes back to life, Republican senators have revived Trumpcare from the dead,’ said Los Angeles LGBT Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings. ‘But, this version is even more deadly.’

Both the LA LGBT Center and Human Rights Campaign (HRC) warn against the bill’s impact on the community.

According to the Center’s statement, about half of their clientele who come to them for medical services rely on Medicaid.

Chad Griffin, president of HRC, also implored: ‘Like its predecessors, this bill would undermine health care for millions of Americans and have a disproportionate impact on low-income senior citizens, women, children, LGBTQ people and people living with HIV.

‘The Senate must reject any bill that aims to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act and, in the process, put people’s lives at risk.’

Source: New Republican healthcare bill will harm those living with HIV