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Ashford: Health Care Compact Could Hurt Minorities, Seniors
Legislation would allow Ohio to re-write rules for Medicare,
Medicaid
Special to The Truth
The Ohio House of Representatives last week voted to approve
legislation that critics fear will dismantle Ohio’s
healthcare infrastructure and negatively impact seniors,
minorities, and the working poor.
The measure, House Bill 34, enters Ohio into a Health Care
Compact. If the compact receives congressional approval to
move forward, Ohio would be allowed to suspend the operation
of all federal health care laws, rules, orders and
regulations (i.e. Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable
Care Act).
“The successful implementation of the Health Care Compact
will end Medicare and Medicaid as we know it,” said Michael
Ashford (D-Toledo), who voted against the bill. “All
Americans deserve the same basic level of access to
healthcare services, including our seniors and minority
communities. This extreme, partisan legislation will
endanger the health of our state’s most vulnerable
populations.”
HB 34 has the potential to negatively affect the nearly two
million Ohioans who currently receive Medicare benefits, and
the almost two million Ohio Medicaid recipients.
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