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Democrats respond to GOP bill aimed at blocking health care reform bill in Ga.

By Staff
Posted 2:30PM on Tuesday 17th December 2013 ( 10 years ago )
ATLANTA - Georgia Democratic Party leaders are blasting a proposal by four Republican state representatives to introduce legislation next year to block state agencies from implementing any provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Party leaders say should they succeed in their efforts in dismantling the ACA, four million Georgians, including 631,000 children, may yet again be denied health coverage or charged higher premiums due to pre-existing conditions. Preventative care, including mammograms, well-woman visits, blood and cholesterol screening, immunizations and domestic violence counseling that can now be provided at no out of pocket cost will again become luxuries that millions of Georgians cannot afford.

They also assert that insurance companies will no longer be required to spend at least 80% (85% in the large group market) of premiums on medical care and efforts to improve the quality of care. Hundreds of thousands of young people under the age of 26 will be dropped from their parents' plan.

"Millions of Georgians are already benefitting from the Affordable Care Act," said Democratic Party of Georgia Chair DuBose Porter. "Republicans want to do away with covering Georgians with pre-existing conditions, a policy now banned thanks to Obamacare."

"The 'Party of No' essentially wants to deny health coverage to millions of Georgians," continued Porter. "Rather than work with Democrats to find solutions to our state's health care needs, Republicans yet again prove they have absolutely no ideas of their own."

Porter adds that Georgia Democrats remain committed in their desire to expand access to quality, affordable health care to all Georgians.

Jason Spencer, one of the sponsors of the GOP bill, says the legislation is intended to leave implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Georgia up to the federal government and not state agencies.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2013/12/268981

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