RNs Reject Collins’ ACA Replacement Bill, Say We need Medicare for All

(Portland, ME) On Saturday, February 18th, members of The Maine Health Care is a Human Right Coalition—led by the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MSNA/NNU), the Southern Maine Workers’ Center, and Maine AllCare—will hold a rally and march calling on Senator Susan Collins to attend a healthcare forum where she will hear directly from constituents on the importance of universal, publicly funded healthcare for all.

The coalition behind the event rejects a bill recently proposed by Collins (and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy), which would partially replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—but in the process, say coalition members, move healthcare conditions backward—causing consumers to pay more and lose important protections. Members instead call on Collins to move forward from the ACA to universal, publicly funded healthcare for all, in the form of a Medicare for All system.

“Bedside nurses throughout the state of Maine see firsthand the tragic effects of a health care system that is profit-driven. Many patients in Maine are not able to receive the care they need to survive, and they either go without the care or wait until it becomes a crisis and seek care in emergency rooms,” said Andrew Pratt, RN. “We need to have a patient-centered, Medicare for All healthcare system.” 

What:     Nurses, Allies Demand Senator Collins Attend People’s Forum on Healthcare.
When:   Saturday, February 18, 12 noon rally, followed by march to Collins' office
Where:  Monument Square, Portland, Maine

The ACA, while it expanded access to insurance for millions of American citizens, prioritized insurance and pharmaceutical companies’ ability to make a profit. The ACA left too many people out, say coalition members, and even those that have access to insurance often can’t afford necessary care. But efforts in Washington to dismantle the ACA will leave millions more without access to health insurance.

“Senator Collins’ plan would move us backwards, not forwards,” said Pratt. “We’re standing up to say she needs to do better by the people of Maine; she needs to listen to her constituents when we say we want Medicare for All.”

“Senator Collins is just throwing us crumbs with her proposal to replace the Affordable Care Act with a bill that will hurt poor folks and people with pre-existing and chronic medical conditions,” said Peggy Marchand, a member of the Workers’ Center, who will attend the rally on Saturday. “Collins’ bill would let states opt out of the ACA, and we know Maine’s governor LePage will jump on that opportunity right out of the gate. The only replacement for the ACA is universal health care.”

In Augusta, the Governor has proposed a state budget that will eliminate 25,000 additional people from MaineCare. These attacks on access to health care are unacceptable, say coalition members, as people in Maine want more health care, not less.  

Rally-goers at Saturday’s event will demand that Collins attend a People’s Forum on Health Care, coming up later in March. The forum will highlight the voices of everyday Mainers, and will focus on the solution of universal publicly funded health care. Local politicians and state legislators will also be invited to attend the People’s Forum on Health Care.  

Maine State Nurses Association is part of National Nurses United, the largest union of professional nurses in the country, with over 150,000 members nationwide.