Patients, health care advocates call on Senate to protect coverage

At an event today in Reno, NV, patients and other health care advocates called on the Senate to protect coverage for patients as the health debate continues in Washington, D.C.

Speakers included heart disease and breast cancer survivors, a local business owner and mother, Nevada Medical Center CEO Alan Olive and Washoe County Medical Society President Andrew Pasternak, M.D. This was the second of four planned events around the country organized by the AHA, AARP, American Cancer Society Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Federation of American Hospitals, March of Dimes and others.

Last week an event was held in Cleveland, OH, and future events are planned in Colorado and West Virginia.

Senate leadership tomorrow is expected to release draft legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

The AHA on June 16 urged the Senate to make continued health care coverage a priority as it considers its health care legislation.

“Health care coverage is vitally important to working Americans and their families,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack wrote to senators. "We therefore ask that the Senate protect our patients, and find ways to maintain coverage for as many Americans as possible by rejecting the AHCA, including its elimination of Medicaid expansion, untenable cuts to the Medicaid program, dilution of consumer protections, and inadequate tax credits for individuals purchasing coverage on the exchanges.”

The Senate today returned to Washington as Senate leaders race to ready their legislation before the Fourth of July recess.

Meanwhile, The Coalition to Protect America's Health Care, of which the AHA is a founding member, continues to energize its online community of 1.4 million members and is running TV, radio, and digital advertising reinforcing the need to protect coverage.