American Nurses Association Urges Congress to Work on Bipartisan Solutions for Health Care Reform

CONTACT
Veronica Byrd, 301-628-5057
veronica.byrd@ana.org

Rachel Farbman, 301-628-5062
rachel.farbman@ana.org

Silver Spring, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) is pleased that the Senate will not be voting on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson proposal and urges Congress to act immediately to stabilize the individual health insurance markets. 

ANA, which represents the interests of more than 3.6 million registered nurses, had serious concerns with the Senate's latest healthcare proposal.
“ANA is relieved that the harmful Graham-Cassidy proposal—which would have been devastating to millions of the nation’s most vulnerable patients—will not come to a vote. It’s now time to work on bipartisan solutions that put patients first, which includes preserving the protections gained under the Affordable Care Act and stabilizing insurance markets,” ANA President Pam Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.
The Graham-Cassidy proposal would have ripped away coverage from millions of Americans by gutting Medicaid, eroding protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, allowing states to remove the Essential Health Benefits requirements, and slashing federal funding for healthcare services.  

Moving forward, ANA calls on Congress to work across the aisle to improve the American healthcare system in a way that protects patients’ right to affordable and accessible healthcare. ANA hopes the House and Senate will take swift action to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which expires on September 30 and currently covers nine million children.

ANA stands ready to work with Congress as a constructive voice and positive force for improving health care delivery, coverage, and affordability for the American people.