WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today released the following statement regarding the changes to the revised draft of the Senate health care bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA):

“Kansans are losing choices in care, and their costs and premiums are still rising. If we are going to finally reverse the damage of Obamacare – we must act.

“I will support a motion to proceed. To amend and improve the bill, you have to vote to get on the bill, which is the only way to begin the process of addressing Obamacare’s failures and making further improvements on behalf of our nation’s health care.

“Since the first draft was released, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I have continued working with Senate leadership to make further improvements to lower the cost of care, ensure Kansans have more coverage options, and to support providers in rural areas.

“Kansans don’t like mandates or taxes. This bill rolls back both.

“Kansas health care providers are understandably concerned about the costs of caring for Medicaid patients and the uninsured. This bill ensures that non-expansion states like Kansas will have help. All Medicaid providers and especially the more than 60 Kansas hospitals serving a larger portion of Medicaid patients and the uninsured will have access to $619 million to serve those most in need. Under Obamacare, these providers will continue to receive nothing.

“For those Kansans struggling to make ends meet, this bill provides additional assistance to purchase insurance on the private market and gives states and insurers funds to ensure plans are affordable and that patients can access the care of their choice.

“We have also worked to address concerns of the disability community and were able to enhance and support optional Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) under Medicaid. We created a demonstration program for states to make payment adjustments for these critical services with priority given to low-population states like Kansas.

“Finally, we ensured that the $45 billion in funds to address opioid abuse can also be used to address other substance abuse disorders and used for critical research to both treat and prevent addiction.

“I look forward to continued improvement of the bill and am confident Kansas will continue to fare better under BCRA than Obamacare. I believe we have made some progress, and we will keep working.”

Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the two committees of jurisdiction on health care. He is co-chairman of the Rural Health Caucus.