Patients and providers urge Congress to protect health coverage

At an event this morning in Charleston, WV, patients and their advocates highlighted concerns with recent proposals to repeal and replace parts of the Affordable Care Act, including the recent Senate proposal. Speakers included the mother of a young cancer patient, a heart patient, stroke survivor and physician. “For people like my little granddaughter there is nothing more important than access to health care,” said Lora Wilkerson, whose granddaughter Ellie was diagnosed with a rare cancer at 18 months old. “I am not an expert or a trained volunteer. I’m just a grandmother who is speaking out for a 3-year-old girl who can’t do it herself. I want Sen. Capito and Sen. Manchin to know that affordable and adequate health coverage is critical for Ellie as well as all West Virginians.” Organized by the AHA, AARP, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, Federation of American Hospitals and March of Dimes, the event was the fourth in a series around the country urging Congress to protect coverage for patients.