Alexandria, Virginia, June 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For Immediate Release

NAFC Statement on Release of Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017

Alexandra, VA - The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC), whose mission is to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care, is disappointed in the path to health care reform that is outlined in the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act. 

Annually 1.8 million people receive health care at America’s 1,200 Free and Charitable Clinics and Charitable Pharmacies and it was our expectation and our hope that the Senate would find a way to provide access to health care to the 29 million people who were left behind and continue to be uninsured after the passage of the Affordable Care Act. In addition, after the passage of the House Bill, we implored the Senate to protect vulnerable individuals and continue Medicaid expansion programs so that an estimated 23 million additional people would not lose their coverage.

Unfortunately, under this discussion draft, millions of people will still lose access to health care coverage and the coverage that will be available, will be more expensive. The working poor and medically underserved will once again be expected to shoulder the burdens of costly health care; this is not acceptable.

It is our hope that as the Senate continues to discuss this legislation, changes can be made that will allow for a health care system that provides affordable coverage, care and dignity to all. The NAFC remains ready to work with our policy makers so we can build a healthy America, one person at a time- together.

About the Organization:

The NAFC is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,200 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them.  Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care and strives to be a national voice promoting quality health care for all.  The organization believes that access to health care should be a right, not a privilege, and it values volunteerism, community ownership, service and collaboration. 

For more information about the NAFC, please visit www.nafcclinics.org. Follow the NAFC on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NAFClinics and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NAFCClinics.  

Attachments:

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