Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nJanuary\u00a014,\u00a02017<\/b><\/p>\n
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The National Council of Churches USA (NCC) has joined with the Conference of National Black Churches, the Ecumenical Poverty Initiative, and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference in issuing a statement in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other federal \u201csafety net\u201d programs that may be under threat as the new administration enters office.<\/p>\n
Two Church of the Brethren ministries–Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) and the Disabilities Ministry that is a part of Congregational Life Ministries–have expressed support for the statement and for the ACA as a means for access to health care for Americans, and for vulnerable populations in particular.<\/p>\n
This week, the US Congress in separate budget decisions by the Senate and the House, laid groundwork for a speedy repeal of the ACA. Although in the Senate amendments were attempted that would have retained popular provisions of the law, none succeeded. Attempted were amendments to retain the ACA\u2019s allowance for children up to 26 years of age to stay on their parents\u2019 health insurance, provisions supporting women\u2019s health and related to combating gender discrimination, provisions preventing rural hospitals and rural health care from being weakened, and protections for those with pre-existing conditions.<\/p>\n
BBT president comments on important aspects of ACA<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWhile the Affordable Care Act is not without its flaws, it is irresponsible for the new Congress to move ahead so quickly to begin rescinding the legislation without having an adequate replacement,\u201d said Nevin Dulabaum, president of Brethren Benefit Trust. BBT provides health insurance to organizational employees within the denomination.<\/p>\n \u201cMillions of Americans who did not previously have insurance are now covered under the ACA. People with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied healthcare. Young adults are now covered until age 26. And there\u2019s no lifetime maximum or cap on healthcare claims. These are just some of the benefits that have been realized through the ACA, and even if they stay, the uncertainty of change in the healthcare industry to a new system is certain to negatively impact future premiums.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Congress and President-elect Trump want to replace the ACA,\u201d he commented, \u201cthey should do so only after a well-thought-out plan has been designed and discussed, with the impact of costs and coverage known to all.\u201d<\/p>\n Disabilities Ministry notes potential losses for \u2018least of these\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Debbie Eisenbise, director of Intergenerational Ministries is as staff for the Disabilities Ministry, shared \u201csorrow\u201d at potential losses if the ACA is repealed. \u201cThe church must speak out on issues like the repeal of the Affordable Care Act,\u201d she said, \u201cbecause the impact would be so great upon those we in the Christian community understand to be the \u2018least of these\u2019–those who are vulnerable, in need and without personal financial resources to address their situation.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of these people have what is known as \u2018pre-existing conditions.\u2019 This can be anything from asthma to sleep apnea to cancer that has been in remission for years to physical disability or intellectual impairment.<\/p>\n \u201cMany of us, our family, or friends have, in the past, been denied access to insurance because of this,\u201d she added. \u201cOne of the greatest advantages of the Affordable Care Act has been removing \u2018pre-existing conditions\u2019 from access to coverage. In addition, many people with mental illness and chronic conditions have been able to access on-going care for the first time. Also, many self-employed and part-time employed persons who did not have access to insurance, especially coverage that would allow major surgery or cover pregnancy, are now able to be insured.<\/p>\n \u201cTo once again leave millions of persons uninsured and so unable to access the care they need is unconscionable,\u201d she asserted. \u201cWhat is needed is an expansion of the act to make it more affordable and health care more accessible, not a repeal leaving those most vulnerable in dire straits. Our Annual Conference statements (in 1994 and 2006) affirm the worth of persons of all abilities. We, therefore, must speak out on behalf of\u00a0 those who would be negatively impacted by\u00a0 the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. As Jesus reached out to and restored all who came to him broken in body, mind, or spirit, so we must advocate for our brothers and sisters in need.\u201d<\/p>\n Eisenbise gave an example of a little-known provision of the ACA that is of importance for the disabilities community: expanded therapy coverage for children with autism. The ACA currently requires health insurance plans to offer coverage for autism treatments that are dubbed \u201chabilitative care,\u201d as part of the essential health benefits in plans sold to individuals and small groups.<\/p>\n \u201cI am collecting stories of the impact of the move to repeal the ACA on families for the Disabilities Ministry,\u201d Eisenbise said. \u201cMy hope is to pass stories on to denominational and ecumenical leaders to hold the church accountable to witness for those who are negatively impacted.\u201d<\/p>\n Send personal stories about the impact of repeal of the ACA to Debbie Eisenbise, director of Intergenerational Ministries, at 847-429-4306 or\u00a0deisenbise@brethren.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n The statement from faith groups<\/strong><\/p>\n Titled \u201cBefore the Oath of Office Is Taken,\u201d the statement was issued on Jan. 6. It called for healing and unity in the nation, but also urged the incoming administration to \u201cpreserve, protect, and defend America.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement expressed \u201cgrave concerns\u201d about the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well as other federal \u201csafety net\u201d programs including Medicaid and Medicare, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, often known as food stamps), and Child Nutrition and WIC. These programs \u201clift more than 40 million people out of poverty each year\u201d and \u201care proven to help reduce poverty and provide families in need, especially children and seniors, with food and housing security as well as with access to health care,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n With regard to the potential repeal of the ACA, in particular, the statement expressed \u201cgrave concerns about a proposed policy agenda that, if enacted, would put the most vulnerable among us in jeopardy. Throughout Christian scriptures we are instructed to care for the poor and the most vulnerable. The Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid expansion, has given more than 30 million people access to affordable health coverage. While working to improve the ACA will benefit all Americans, repealing it without simultaneously offering a replacement is reckless and unnecessarily endangers the health of millions of people.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement went on to note additional concerns about picks for Cabinet positions that have been linked to extremist and racist views that the statement named as \u201cmorally inconsistent with Christian principles of loving neighbor and antithetical to American values of \u2018liberty and justice for all.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n — The full text of the statement is online at\u00a0https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSfOeP_arO9SEcjYbVanGJg52YwMJMDXoJ0vX3L8hYh0-K0HPA\/viewform?fbzx=-8945811722272475000<\/a>\u00a0. In related news, 32 faith-based organizations also shared a 2017 environmental vision via a letter to the incoming administration urging policies that will safeguard God\u2019s creation, address the impacts of climate change on the most vulnerable, and fulfill moral obligation to future generations in the US and internationally; go to\u00a0www.fcnl.org\/updates\/32-faith-based-organizations-share-2017-environmental-vision-529<\/a>\u00a0.<\/em><\/p>\n