GOP health-care plan will hurt the Valley, physician says

Congressman David Valadao’s attempt to defend his misguided vote for the American Health Care Act leaves out very crucial facts about the bill that will have a huge impact on public health in the Central Valley.

The bill passed by the House of Representatives would eliminate protections for those with pre-existing conditions. That means hundreds of thousands in the congressman’s district and throughout the Central Valley could lose coverage under the new plan. That includes over 11,000 men, women and children suffering from asthma in Kings County alone.

The congressman and other supporters of the legislation claim that setting up high-risk pools will take care of the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions. But history has shown that system leads to higher premiums, long wait lists and inadequate coverage.

That’s why the AHCA was strongly opposed by the American Lung Association and nearly every health, patient and medical group in the country.

If Republicans are serious about improving health care in the Central Valley and the United States they should not strip coverage from so many of their constituents.

This story was originally published May 26, 2017 at 12:44 PM with the headline "GOP health-care plan will hurt the Valley, physician says."