The Americans With The Most To Lose Under GOP’s Plan? Trump Voters
The proposal will hit older, low-income rural people the hardest.
Los Angeles Times:
Trump Voters Would Be Among The Biggest Losers In Republicans' Obamacare Replacement Plan
Americans who swept President Trump to victory — lower-income, older voters in conservative, rural parts of the country — stand to lose the most in federal healthcare aid under a Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, according to a Times analysis of county voting and tax credit data. Among those hit the hardest under the current House bill are 60-year-olds with annual incomes of $30,000, particularly in rural areas where healthcare costs are higher and Obamacare subsidies are greater. (Levey, 3/12)
Los Angeles Times:
The Life-And-Death Stakes Of An Affordable Care Act Repeal In One Of L.A. County's Poorest, Sickest Regions
Nurses and doctors rush through hallways, readying exam rooms. The clinic in Lancaster hasn’t yet opened for the day, but staff members know that once patients start filing in they won’t stop. In less than two hours, it will be standing-room only in the waiting areas. Eight years ago, the Antelope Valley Community Clinic was a mobile van that offered check-ups and employed fewer than 10 people. Today it’s a health system with two clinics, two vans and 235 employees, and treats 500 patients a day. (Karlamangla, 3/10)
In other news on the Republicans' health plan and California —
Los Angeles Times:
The Healthcare Debate Comes To California In This Week's Politics Podcast
The stakes are high for California in the effort by congressional Republicans to replace existing healthcare rules. But few prominent California leaders are speaking out, for now. On this week's episode of the California Politics Podcast, we take an early look at the policy and political choices facing state lawmakers with repeal of the Affordable Care Act now coming into focus in Washington. (Myers, 3/12)
East Bay Times:
Bay Area Obamacare Critics: Are They Happy Now?
The reaction from Obamacare critics in the Bay Area ranges from hopeful to cautiously optimistic to downright disgusted — no doubt an indication of why the House Republicans’ American Health Care Act is drawing so much controversy in Washington, D.C. “If this is the best they can come up with after eight years of bitching and complaining, I would have to say we have a bunch of incompetents running the party,” said Phil La Scola, a retired finance manager at Oakland International Airport. “That includes Paul Ryan,’’ the speaker of the House. (Seipel, 3/11)
San Diego Union-Times:
Issa, Hunter Face Raucous Anti-Trump Crowds At Town Hall Meetings
Some 50 days into the Trump administration, Reps. Duncan Hunter and Darrell Issa faced tough questions about the president they campaigned for and the future of health care, immigration and relations with Russia in separate, raucous town hall meetings on Saturday. About 1,000 people poured into an Oceanside community center for two back-to-back forums with Issa. About that many showed up in Ramona for Hunter’s single session, but only about 400 could fit in the concert hall where it was held. (Figueroa and Stewart, 3/11)