Sacramento, Calif. – California Chronic Care Coalition and Chronic Care Policy Alliance President and CEO Liz Helms released the following statement following today’s health care vote:
“California Chronic Care Coalition and Chronic Care Policy Alliance applaud Senator John McCain and his call for a bi-partisan approach to find solutions in American health care. The negative implications of a partisan approach for patients and families across America are too great and the legislation proposed this far has proven it. It is imperative that patient protections in the ACA be protected, such as protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, and protections for the vast number of patients who depend on Medicaid coverage.
It is time for everyone to come together and put patients first and put partisan politics aside. It is crucial that patients are kept front and center and have a seat at the table. We do not want to lose the 20 years of work patient advocates have put into building a health care system that works for consumers.
To abandon patients and their families, while instituting an age tax on the elderly and tax breaks for the wealthy is simply not acceptable. Our elected officials must abandon their approach to partisan policy development and work across party lines to find the solutions to our health care challenges that will truly benefit America’s patients and families.”