Schumer, Pelosi, Yarmuth, Sanders Ask CBO for Full Assessment of Graham-Cassidy Trumpcare’s Consequences for Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, House Budget Committee Ranking Member John Yarmuth and Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders wrote a letter to the Congressional Budget Office to request a full assessment of the Graham-Cassidy Trumpcare legislation.  Republicans are reportedly hoping to rush to a vote with only a scant budget assessment, before the CBO can expose the full consequences of the legislation for working families, without any hearings or committee markups.

“A comprehensive CBO analysis is essential before Republicans force a hasty, dangerous vote on what is an extreme and destructive repeal bill,” reads the letter. “Members of Congress and the American people need to know the full consequences of Graham-Cassidy before any vote.” 

The full text of the letter is below:

September 18, 2017

Dr. Keith Hall

Director

Congressional Budget Office

Ford House Office Building, 4th Floor

Second and D Streets, SW

Washington, D.C. 20515-6925

Dear Director Hall:

Thank you for all the work the Congressional Budget Office has done in detailing the vast consequences of the Republican bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act for working families and the budget.  

Before votes are taken on Graham-Cassidy, the public needs a full understanding of the impact this legislation would have on hard-working families.  The legislation creates three different time periods of concern: immediately following enactment in 2018 and 2019, in the period from 2020 to 2026, and after 2027 when funding is dramatically reduced.  For each of these time periods Members and the American people should know:

• How many people will lose health insurance under the Graham-Cassidy bill?
• How much will premiums and out-of-pocket health costs increase, particularly for older Americans?
• Will women or Americans with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, diabetes and asthma be negatively impacted?
• How much will Medicaid be cut? 
• How would Graham-Cassidy impact the stability of the insurance marketplaces? 
• Also, what happens if states fail to reinvent their health systems before Graham-Cassidy eliminates current law?  Is two years enough time for states to legislate and implement?

Thus far, every version of Republicans’ effort to repeal and replace the ACA has meant higher health costs, millions of hard-working Americans pushed off coverage, and key protections gutted with devastating consequences for those with pre-existing conditions.  

A comprehensive CBO analysis is essential before Republicans force a hasty, dangerous vote on what is an extreme and destructive repeal bill.  Members of Congress and the American people need to know the full consequences of Graham-Cassidy before any vote. 

Thank you again for your attention to this matter.  

Sincerely,