With the GOP congressional leadership in Washington forging ahead with repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Mike A. Gipson is calling on Californians to phone the Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, the architect of the GOP Health Plan and members of Congress.
“Lives will be lost if the Affordable Care Act is repealed. Our current plan insures over 20 million people in America and 5 million in California. Many of them represent the most vulnerable of populations who desperately need health care and cannot otherwise afford it. Also at risk are 200-300,000 health care jobs under the GOP plan. This will devastate California and the nation. I’m asking all Californians to call Speaker Paul Ryan in support of the Affordable Care Act,” said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson.
Gipson was joined by Dr. Roderick Seamster, CEO, WattsHealth Care; Dr. Erica Jacquez, Asst. V.P., Govt. Relations, AltaMed; Dr. Yoshado Lang, Psychologist; Angela Minnifield, MPA, V.P. Advancement, Strategic Development and External Affairs Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science; Al Arizmendez, Communications, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital; Arturo Ybarra, Watts/Century Latino Organization; Justin Bailey and Beatrice Gadduang, ASI California State University Dominguez Hills; Juan Gonzalez, Watts/Willowbrook Crystal Stairs; and community stakeholders.
“Prior to the Affordable Care Act, our communities had a tremendous need that was not met. The ACA brought the community closer to filling basic needs in life including reducing illness,” said Dr. Seamster.
“Since the inception of ACA, the number of patients we have been able to see has tripled by 43 percent to the MediCaid beneficiaries, who for the first time in a long time have access to primary and preventive care,” stated Dr. Jacquez. “In California, 12.5 million have enrolled in MediCaid, 60,000 live in the 64th District. The American Health Care Act (GOP) would eliminate expansion which means nearly 19 percent of the 64th District would be at risk for losing health benefits…The ACA has also provided quality jobs to our community and allowed AltaMed to increase access to patient care by providing additional locations and enhancements to services.”
“At Charles R. Drew University, our mission is to increase the number of primary care providers. The repeal of ACA would be a set back for all communities at large by denying people access to care,” said Angela Minnifield.
Asm. Gipson concluded by saying, “It’s no accident that we stand here at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in the Watts/Willowbrook area of the 64th District. This community will be hit the hardest by ACA repeal. I’m asking each and every one of you to please stand up and call your member of Congress and also call House Speaker Paul Ryan in Washington, D.C. to express why the ACA is important to you, your family, your community and to all Americans.”
