Statement by Joe Baker, President of the Medicare Rights Center,
on Graham-Cassidy Bill Not Coming to a Vote

New York, NY—Today, the U.S. Senate once again chose to reject a bill that would have caused tens of millions of people to lose health coverage and irreparably damaged the Medicaid program. Senate Leadership announced that the Graham-Cassidy bill will not come to the floor for a vote. Yet again, Americans across the nation lifted up their voices to protect health coverage and care for millions, including older adults and people with disabilities.

Only time, transparency, and a return to regular order can provide the right environment for developing real health care reforms. We must enhance access and affordability, not lessen them, and we must work toward bipartisan solutions, not a rushed, partisan process fraught with closed door meetings, secret bills, and limited analyses.

The Graham-Cassidy bill failed. But if nothing else, this year has taught us that we must remain vigilant to defend and expand affordable health coverage for all. We thank our clients and supporters for telling their stories and helping to secure this important victory.

For more information on the Medicare program and proposals under consideration to change it, visit the Medicare Rights Center’s “Protect and Strengthen” webpage at www.medicarerights.org/protect.

Press Contact: Mitchell Clark – mclark@medicarerights.org

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