U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly says he can’t support the Republican alternative to the Affordable Care Act in its current form. He’s not opposed to improvements aimed at making health insurance more affordable but says he’s not going to vote for anything that takes healthcare away from those struggling with conditions like diabetes or heart disease who have finally gotten coverage.
Donnelly says the GOP plan slashes costs on the backs of his constituents by reducing or eliminating benefits for millions of people.
He says many of the people he represents have coverage for the first time thanks to the Affordable Care Act and adds he won’t let them lose coverage for diseases like diabetes that are beyond their control.
“I just want to make sure we keep the commitments we’ve made to folks,” Donnelly said.
The proposed bill includes a broad Medicaid overhaul that could mean reductions in benefits. Vice President Mike Pence has called the measure a “framework for reform.”
