FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 29, 2016
Contact: Heather Appel – happel@cirseiu.org
SEIU’s Henry and Dr. Kellner: We Cannot Allow Representative Price to Put the Health of Seniors, Children and Working People at Risk
Washington, DC – Mary Kay Henry, SEIU International President and Dr. Eve Kellner, President of the Committee of Interns and Residents, issued this statement today in response to President-elect Trump’s plan to nominate Representative Tom Price (R-GA) as Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“President-elect Trump’s choice of Representative Price as Secretary of Health and Human Services proves he has tuned out the voices of America’s working families, many of whom are counting on Medicaid, Medicare or the Affordable Care Act for their healthcare.
“As the nation’s largest union of healthcare workers, including thousands of resident physicians and fellows, we know the doctor-patient relationship is built upon comprehensive primary care. The irony is that Representative Price’s proposals would block millions of patients from preventive healthcare – resulting in a worst-case scenario for physicians and patients.
“As Republicans rush to repeal the healthcare law with no clear plan to replace it, the health of Americans is at risk. There are 22 million Americans at risk of losing their healthcare by January. There are parents and grandparents in nursing homes, or aging at home, who would have this care endangered or cut short. There are children waking up today who can see a doctor thanks to Medicaid who would end up waiting in emergency rooms.
“People are working harder than ever to take care of their own families and cannot afford higher costs for prescription drugs and higher premiums for less care. That’s Representative Price’s vision and the vision of Republicans in Congress. We cannot allow them to put the health of seniors, children and working people at risk and will continue to fight back with a growing movement of people across this country who will stand up and defend access to affordable, quality healthcare for all.”
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