Durbin rails against GOP healthcare plan

Posted on May 8, 2017
Dick Durbin
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin slammed the American Health Care Act which the U.S. House approved last week. (Photo courtesy Senate Democrats/flickr)

By RFD Radio

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin wrapped up a week of recovery from a heart procedure at his Springfield home Sunday.

Health care was very much on his mind, not only his own recovery but the new health care plan passed by the U.S. House.

“I’m going to try to remind my colleagues in the United States Senate something that I learned six weeks ago, we are all one diagnosis away from needing quality care for ourselves and the ones we love,” Durbin said. “If you start shutting off health insurance opportunities for people across Illinois and across this nation, we are not doing our country a favor.”

Durbin said a couple of groups in particular will pay a price if the plan passes, including those who are fighting opioid addiction.

“Health insurance now requires under the Affordable Care Act to cover mental health illness as well as substance abuse treatment,” Durbin said. “That is a nonessential according to the Republicans who voted this past week.”

Durbin added cuts to Medicaid will hurt the disabled the most.

The Republican majority pushed through the AHCA in a 217-213 vote. The Senate is expected to make change to the proposal.

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