Title
Urging the United States Congress to preserve the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion as cutting back or repealing them would have disastrous effects on the health of Philadelphians and negatively impact the economy of entire Philadelphia region.
Body
WHEREAS, On March 6, 2017, pursuant to Resolution 170059, Philadelphia City Council's Committee on Public Health and Human Services held a public hearing on the impact a repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would have on the residents of Philadelphia, particularly its low-income and elderly populations; and
WHEREAS, As the fifth largest city in the nation with the highest poverty rate of the country's largest 10 cities, it was appropriate and fiscally responsible for the Committee, as further authorized by the resolution, to assess the preparedness of the City in the event that a repeal leaves large portions of the city's population with inadequate healthcare insurance; and
WHEREAS, The hearing received written and in-person testimony from twenty-four witnesses representing local government, academia, hospitals, doctors, nurses, unions, lawyers, non-profit organizations and consumers who all emphasized the consequences that a repeal could have from their perspective; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Health testified that people without health insurance have a mortality rate 40% higher than those with insurance; and
WHEREAS, The City's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services testified that repeal could severely curtail or stop treatment for the 40,000 Philadelphians afflicted with substance use disorder; and
WHEREAS, The AARP submitted testimony on behalf of its 175,000 Philadelphia members stating that as a result of the ACA consumers between the ages of 55 and 64 have been able to obtain affordable health insurance before they become eligible for Medicare. The ACA has also reduced the cost of prescription drugs by lessening the coverage g...
Click here for full text