Albany – "Yesterday's vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a deeply flawed plan that will completely disrupt the lives of tens of millions of Americans by taking away their healthcare is beyond reproach. The bill essentially takes us back as a country to where we were by discriminating against those with pre­existing conditions, defunds Planned Parenthood, threatens the cost and availability of employer­based health insurance, while at the same time benefiting the wealthy by giving them a generous tax cut ­ while the middle class and poor continue to struggle.

This policy in unconscionable and beyond the pale. In the Assembly, I will continue fighting for access to quality, affordable health care. Where the federal government fails, New York must not. It is now up to the members of the U.S. Senate to stop this horrific bill in its tracks so it never makes it to President Trump's desk."

Details about the American Health Care Act (AHCA):

• States could seek waivers to allow insurers to charge people with pre­existing conditions higher premiums, including victims of domestic violence, victims of sexual assault – including rape – and pregnant women;
• Defunds Planned Parenthood;
• States could seek waivers to allow insurers to charge seniors up to five times more for their coverage, the so­called "Age Tax";
• Rolls back state­by­state expansions of Medicaid, which covers millions of low­ income Americans, and greatly reduces Medicaid spending;
• Allows state governments to roll back required coverage for essential services like emergency care, mental health care, substance abuse, prescription drugs, pediatric services and more.