Statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors President, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Next Steps for a Successful Healthcare Bill

WASHINGTON, DC, July 17, 2017 --

Please credit the following statement to New Orleans Mayor and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Mitch Landrieu:

"Following tonight's development, it's clear that for the foreseeable future, there's no path forward for the Senate health bill, and for good reason. Any new healthcare bill must help lower premium costs while ensuring more Americans get needed care. We should fight any proposal from Washington that hurts real people by taking health coverage away. We see this as a strong opportunity to fix what ails the system and make it stronger - especially as we fight the opioid epidemic and better care for seniors.

"Mayors of both parties have publicly and privately pushed for any fix to the country's healthcare system to not only be absolutely bipartisan but to include mayors as any legislation is drafted. The country's mayors are closest to the people most affected by broad changes to our health system - and including our voices at the table will ensure that we place people first and Washington politics last.”

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As you report, please note that, since January, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has maintained the following bipartisan principals:

The ACA has improved the lives of many Americans and shouldn’t be tossed out without careful consideration of the effect. Repealing the ACA would deny desperately needed access to care to individuals and families; place an undue burden on our local hospitals; and, would rescind safeguards for patients currently suffering from chronic and terminal illnesses.

Moreover, there are important provisions of the ACA which have bipartisan support, are working well, and should be retained including:

• Insuring children up to the age of 26;
• Eliminating lifetime and annual limits;
• Assuring eligibility for insurance coverage even with pre-existing conditions;
• Guaranteeing coverage for pregnancy and breast cancer screenings; and,
• Providing coverage for preventive services at no additional cost

Further, Mayors support the provisions in the ACA, which have increased mental health and substance use disorder benefits and provided parity. Mayors, also, oppose efforts to convert Medicaid to block grants.

About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3db384e-c2ad-4d56-a951-592b8c3449f8

Elena Temple
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
202-286-1100
[email protected]

Sara Durr
Durr Communications
202-215-1811
[email protected]