Frank Pallone Criticizes House Republicans' 'Do No Harm in Medicaid Act'

Republican Medicaid Bill Criticized

• ⚠️ Frank Pallone condemns the Republican "Do No Harm in Medicaid Act" as "shamelessly bold" and lacking any shame.
• 🎯 He argues the bill contradicts the Republicans' earlier actions, which he claims cut nearly a trillion dollars from Medicaid, potentially leaving millions without health coverage.

Devastating Effects of Previous Cuts

• 📉 States are facing significant reductions in federal Medicaid funding, leading to difficult choices and cuts to essential services.
• 🏥 Hospitals, maternity units, home care providers, and clinics are being crippled, with some healthcare providers forced to close or reduce services.
• 📊 Even those retaining Medicaid coverage are experiencing scaled-back benefits, impacting the quality of care they receive.

Banning Gender-Affirming Care

• 🚫 The "Do No Harm in Medicaid Act" (HR498) is described as an extreme attack that bans Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors.
• ⚖️ It also penalizes states by stripping funding if they choose to cover this care using their own state dollars.
• 🗣️ Pallone criticizes politicians for interfering in personal medical decisions, taking them out of the hands of doctors, parents, and patients.

Distraction from Healthcare Crisis

• 🎭 The debate is characterized as political theater designed to distract from a self-created healthcare crisis.
• 💔 Republicans are accused of trying to divert attention from cuts that will strip healthcare from 15 million Americans and close hospitals.
• 📈 The bill also distracts from the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which are causing significant premium increases for over 20 million Americans.

Call to Action

• ❌ Pallone urges colleagues to vote no on the bill.
• 📢 He calls on Speaker Johnson to bring up the discharge petition to extend ACA premium tax credits for three years, noting majority support in the House.