Gov. Scott signs letter opposing latest bill to repeal Affordable Care Act

April McCullum
Burlington Free Press

Gov. Phil Scott joined nine other governors this week as he asked the U.S. Senate to drop the latest effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Phil Scott speaks in opposition to the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act on July 17, 2017.

Scott signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, calling on them to set aside the Graham-Cassidy bill in favor of bipartisan work to strengthen the individual health insurance market.

"Only open, bipartisan approaches can achieve true, lasting reforms," the letter states.

More:What would the Graham-Cassidy health care bill mean for you?

Three other Republican governors, five Democratic governors and one independent governor also signed the letter.

"We ask you to support bipartisan efforts to bring stability and affordability to our insurance markets," the governors wrote. "Legislation should receive consideration under regular order, including hearings in health committees and input from the appropriate health-related parties."

The Graham-Cassidy proposal is the most recent attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The bill would eliminate the expansion of Medicaid for adults who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty line. Vermont was among 31 states that took advantage of the Medicaid expansion. 

The Republican plan would take money from the Medicaid expansion, end subsidies for out-of-pocket costs and premium tax credits, and redistribute funding through block grants to states. 

Compared to current law, Vermont would lose approximately $2,500 of federal funding per person in 2026 if the amendment passes, according to a New York Times analysis based on a left-leaning think tank's estimates. The analysis ranked Vermont second in the nation for potential losses under the proposal.

More:Shumlin: Single-payer health care was too much for little Vermont

Scott, a Republican serving his first term as governor, has consistently opposed efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. In July, Scott and other state Republican leaders defended the health care law alongside the state's Democratic and independent congressional delegation during a news conference at Scott's ceremonial office in Montpelier. 

More:VT state leaders unite to blast GOP health care bill

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum
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