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Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack talks to Alan about Mitt Romney’s statements on Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid.
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-- -- -- and welcome Ron -- -- he's executive director of families USA.
He is.
Which -- by the hill -- atop a nonprofit lobbyists in the country.
And we've -- of the Antioch law of the School of Law.
Prior to this -- thank you gonna programs and I appreciate it very much what a BL it's -- families USA -- -- advocating particular solution in health care.
Well we have we've been around -- you know for thirty years and we've been pushing for health reforms that.
Would lead -- towards high quality affordable.
Health coverage and care for every one of the we do support the Affordable Care Act which it's not perfect but it's a big step in the right direction.
It would expand coverage for tens of millions of people -- stop being sure is true.
Denying.
Coverage to people who have preexisting conditions that.
Stops them from discriminating against women in terms of the premiums they charge it.
Prohibits insurers from establishing an annual or -- -- arbitrary -- On what they pay out it allows young adults to stay on their parents' policies.
Until they're twenty -- saying that provides.
We'll know literally for I'm Medicare about.
-- when he ultimately -- -- -- you want single Payer or what what do you think we should all end up with us.
I think -- -- -- that with thirty universal coverage.
So that everybody.
Has the coverage and care that they need them.
Whether it is done through a single Payer system or another what we need to do is make sure that nobody is recruiters from.
Getting the -- me because they can't afford it.
Let's set about what happened last night you believe -- mr.
Romney.
Has reversed himself slide not been honest what what are your issues with -- what Romney said last night.
Well.
You see any clearly.
Orders.
In and a breathtaking fashion.
-- one misleading statement after the other.
I mean and if it -- I don't know any of the telemarketing it's for a yeah.
First.
He said that he is proposing no cutbacks.
For current Medicare -- sure.
And everything and then a long.
That's right this is absolutely.
And demonstrably untrue.
-- -- here are two very obvious.
Reason this is demonstrably untrue.
Seniors and people with disabilities and dramatic programs.
Are now getting -- -- that.
Healthcare services for for -- No deductibles no co -- So they can get checked out shouldn't colonoscopy.
Isn't mammograms.
That's provided under the -- under obamacare.
Also obamacare also provides.
A significant amount of relief for people with high drug costs that.
Fill this gap the so called doughnut hole right now it's providing.
50% discount for people who -- and -- -- recovered.
If you repeal Obama care.
And then -- true that the battle -- which people are already receiving.
Would be eliminated just some more.
-- He further time and time and time again last night -- he has throughout the campaign.
That obamacare will hurt Medicare beneficiaries.
By cutting the program by 716.
Billion dollars over ten years you.
Well.
Put aside from the fact that -- running mate Paul Ryan actually has offered the exact same proposal.
And has passed by the Republican House you what's really important to understand.
It is it is what what obamacare does.
Is it eliminates wage -- in the -- Turner's.
Hospital -- ensure cost pharmaceutical caught.
It doesn't take a -- away in terms -- -- that's for sure seniors and people with disabilities and the process by getting rid of some of this -- It's and it's through the life under Medicare trust fund -- eight.
Here in the money comes out of the providers not from the consumer.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
The governor which said that he will improve the -- programs.
Threw a block grants -- the states.
And he -- that's going to improve.
How the program is -- however.
When he doesn't say is that black forehand.
Would cut funding by the end of the decade by one but are now either the governor has more discretion.
And stuff out there were on the program.
You can't withdraw.
Such a huge amounts of money we're talking about over 800 billion dollars.
Over the next ten years without cutting low income children or seniors in nursing homes and so that was totally -- And he says something that I thought gives them a special plates.
I spoke all of he's.
That.
In the first year.
Land Obama appears fully implement a twenty million people will -- out the church.
Well the Congressional Budget Office.
Which is a nonpartisan.
Analyst.
For Republicans and Democrats and -- That what obamacare would do it it would expand health care -- -- For more than thirty million people.
What makes it's such -- but I.
Is that governor Romney's proposal especially as a result of -- block granting Medicaid.
Which significantly increase the number of uninsured so that.
A decade from now there would be 78 million people uninsured.
So as you can tell he really was not tethered to any -- -- factual -- That's just on health care I mean he's in a number of the things but.
At -- a bothers me that the president and or Jim Lehrer the moderator did not hold -- -- in this.
Well.
I think that you know that that -- that -- -- you know what was.
Equally and trusting in terms of that out here portion of all -- There were some things that the governor's that were very significant missions.
That shouldn't be lost on the on the public.
When he was confront that.
With Medicare.
Being converted.
To a voucher care program.
He he is he essentially.
Said -- -- other way that -- would work.
Is that the government would pay through the structure.
A certain portion of seniors pregnant.
But -- we would have to pay the remaining portion out of their own pockets -- well with each passing year.
The portion of seniors premiums covered by the voucher.
Would get lower and lower and the map which Gingrich would -- would get higher hires so this is going to cause a lot of seniors.
-- -- health coverage under Medicare unaffordable there was one other site.
And at one point -- said.
Oh -- when -- by -- -- keeping what would you do to replace Obama here.
He talked about people with preexisting condition and he would pat people -- well I'm gonna protect those people.
But if you listened carefully to what the governor's.
And -- -- later confirmed by his campaign spokesperson Eric Armstrong.
He said.
People with preexisting conditions would be protected.
Only here.
Saying that continuous insurance coverage.
Previously.
-- celebrity news that somebody who's been denied coverage.
Due to a pre existing conditions would not sit well.
I am very.
Upset that this was not confronted last night.
And you do what you just said should have been caught.
Hole and mineral on the number of other things and others as David just not true.
But this is a glaring hole in his policy.
Retinue and I'm just amazed that he wasn't confronted.
It just it boggles my mind.
-- -- -- -- -- Well.
I think ideally you'll write and you know so our governor -- probably.
If if you're thinking about style Sorenson and they're debating.
I I think he probably got the better part of this.
Oh but I think ultimately the American people are gonna care about the real substance and how it's going to affect -- lives.
And on the I don't think that the governor Romney ultimately we'll have done so with -- Mr.
-- I thank you coming on Ron Pollack against the executive director of families USA -- thank you for your time tonight sir.
