WASHINGTON, DC – Speaking at a bipartisan Senate Finance Committee hearing on the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson health care proposal, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) questioned one of the proposal’s authors about the impact to Kansans in both the individual market and on Medicaid. He also sought clarity on several “coverage myths” from this proposal, such as preexisting conditions and mental health parity. 

Questioning Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Roberts said, “There is nothing but concern and frustration from my constituents over Obamacare’s failures, and questions – if not demands - as to why we here in the Senate have not acted.

“The Affordable Care Act is not affordable and is failing the very people it promised to help. We have reached bipartisan agreement that the law isn’t working. Unfortunately, many of our colleagues simply wanted more money to patch this problem, not proposals to address many of the law’s fatal flaws.”

Roberts asked Cassidy how Kansas would fare under this proposal. Cassidy responded that Kansas would go from receiving $2.9 billion under current law from the years 2020 to 2026 to $4.7 billion. He also received clarification that children can stay on their parents’ plan until age 26, that mental health parity is required, and those with preexisting conditions will have access to “adequate and affordable coverage.”

To watch the full exchange, click the image below.

Roberts continued, “Now, Senator Sanders – a long-time champion of single-payer, Medicare for all, government-run health care – has reintroduced his proposal with sixteen senators endorsing that idea. I am positive the Graham-Cassidy proposal is certainly better than socialized medicine.” 

Roberts said he is “continuing to review the proposal before us from Senators Graham and Cassidy – getting feedback from actuaries, the Congressional Budget Office and most important, Kansans.” 

Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which are the two committees that have jurisdiction over health care.

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