Protesters personally deliver correspondence to Fetterman's workplace
In a recent gathering in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) convened a group of health care workers to deliver letters to U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, urging them to support the extension of the Affordable Care Act's tax subsidies, which could help them manage their health care expenses and tax tips.
The concern stems from the potential loss of these tax credits, which could have catastrophic effects on the home care industry. Lynn Weidner, a home care worker with asthma, purchases her insurance through Pennie, the state's marketplace. If the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapse, Weidner predicts an average 82% increase in her monthly premium, which could potentially cost her health care coverage.
Home care workers in Pennsylvania have the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the region, and the loss of these tax credits could lead to an increase in uncompensated care, where hospitals do not receive payment for their services. This could force hospitals to make cuts and raise prices, leading to soaring health care prices and the spread of maternity care deserts, as seen in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Doctors stress that when patients aren't adequately insured, they are more likely to seek out emergency care instead of preventative care, leading to more expensive treatment. This could exacerbate the current situation, where hospitals have two options to keep their doors open if the number of uninsured individuals rises: making cuts and raising prices.
The Affordable Care Act tax credits are being disputed in the fight to prevent a government shutdown. Without a compromise, the government could shut down after the Sept. 30 deadline, resulting in hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal employees and the slowing or stopping of a broad stretch of work, usually incurring huge costs to the government.
A recent KFF poll found that 77% of Americans support extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits. U.S. Senator John Fetterman is among those who support this extension and has stated he will not vote to shut down the government over this issue.
However, concerns remain about the future of the home care industry and the elderly who have paid into the system their entire lives and now rely on it. A home care worker expressed concern about her patients ending up in nursing homes with low staff ratios and long waiting lists if the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapse.
Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget proposal includes an additional $21 million for the home care industry, but advocates say it is insufficient to bring workers up to the cost of living. Kathy Caber, the senator's constituent services director, met with SEIU workers in Harrisburg to discuss these concerns.
Congressional Republicans proposed a continuing resolution bill that does not include the extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. The future of the health care industry hangs in the balance as negotiations continue.
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