LLS strongly condemns the bill, which puts cancer patients at risk
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House passed H.R. 1—legislation that would require states to make more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and create barriers to health coverage for the nearly 100 million Americans who rely on Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces for their health insurance coverage. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that 17 million people will lose health coverage if this bill becomes law and Congress fails to renew healthcare tax credits before the end of 2025. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) strongly denounces the bill, which threatens health care for millions of people, including blood cancer patients.
LLS issued the following statement from Dr. E. Anders Kolb, president and CEO, in response to the final passage of the legislation:
“With the passage of this bill, Congress erases more than a decade of progress in improving access to affordable health coverage and care for people across our nation. The impact will be catastrophic: 17 million people, including blood cancer patients, are projected to lose access to the healthcare they count on to thrive and survive.
“The bill makes punishing cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, which are lifelines for many blood cancer patients. As a result, cancers and other chronic diseases won’t get diagnosed until it is too late. Patients undergoing costly chemotherapy who are not severely disabled but require too much medical care to keep their jobs could lose access to the care that keeps them alive. There’s no sugarcoating it: Passage of this bill will mean fewer birthdays, fewer anniversaries, fewer precious life moments, and more suffering, more loss, more financial instability.
“This bill makes more than $1 trillion in cuts to healthcare—but it doesn’t save patients a dime. Instead, it will price patients out of coverage and raise healthcare costs for all at a time when medical expenses are already skyrocketing. Taking coverage away from people doesn’t solve that problem – it only makes it worse, and states are not in a position to make up the difference. Everyone will pay the price.
“While this was not the result we advocated for, LLS will never stop fighting to ensure all patients have access to the care they need. We are committed to defending blood cancer patients. We will keep up the fight to protect their coverage, lower the cost of their care, and ensure the dignity, health and survival of all.”
###
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the global leader and innovator in creating a world without blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure blood cancer and improve the quality of life of all patients and their families. LLS is focused on accelerating research, providing free support and services, and advocating for policies to ensure access to quality, affordable care. For more than 75 years, LLS has been helping blood cancer patients live longer, better lives. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org
Media contact: Kathy Melley, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, (617) 791-0708