Press Statement of Amy Rosenthal, Executive Director of Health Care For All, Regarding the federal election results and the impact on access to health coverage and care for Massachusetts consumers
Boston. — “After days of uncertainty, the voters have spoken and the Biden/Harris ticket has won after making health care coverage and access a central tenet of their campaign. Now more than ever, we must protect and expand access to health care, as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) faces a new legal test, and racial injustices are rampant.
“There is a critical and immediate need for combating the spread of COVID-19, which has killed more 234,000 Americans and has disproportionately impacted Black, Indigenous, Latinx and People of Color. The new administration and Congress must work together to implement a national strategy to manage the public health crisis and invest in testing, contract tracing, distribution of personal protective equipment, and public health guidance.
“Due to the pandemic, state budgets have been decimated. State policymakers are struggling to keep services and programs afloat as they wait for a new relief package that invests in housing, health care and nutrition in order to protect communities most at risk. It is imperative for Congress to pass a much-needed federal relief package with funding for states that includes additional investment in state health care programs.
“These priorities are just the beginning. It has never been clearer how important it is for every American to have access to health care and to address structural racism. Whether we have a divided Congress or not, we cannot play politics with people’s health care. We must build on and expand the ACA to cover everyone and ensure access to quality, affordable health care for all.
