Southwestern Berks' reps in DC support Trumpcare

by Steve Reinbrecht

If you live in Southwestern Berks, your congressman supports the Republican plan to replace Obamacare.

Costello, Smucker

U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello represents Lower Heidelberg, South Heidelberg, and Wernersville.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker represents Sinking Spring.

Both have statements on their websites supporting the bill.

“I voted in favor of reporting the American Health Care Act out [of committee] because I believe it is the appropriate framework through which to rein in healthcare costs and improve our healthcare system,” Costello’s site says.

He made that vote March 9 as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

He elaborated in a statement reported by Reading Eagle reporter Karen Shuey:

"The American Health Care Act is the appropriate framework to bring about the kind of reforms we need to stabilize the insurance market, to protect those who have pre-existing conditions from price discrimination and to treat those within the Medicaid expansion population fairly.”

He added that he believes the bill will rein in health care costs by removing government bureaucracy.

Smucker released a statement March 7:

“Obamacare has failed the American people. In 2010, supporters of the health care law said costs would go down. Instead, families and individuals across Pennsylvania face skyrocketing premiums and deductibles they simply cannot afford. They have been forced off their plans and forced to find new doctors. It’s time for change.

“While more work needs to be done, the American Health Care Act is a good start to ensuring Pennsylvanians will have access to the care they need at a price they can afford. I will work with my colleagues in the House to advance this critical legislation, and will fight for a stable transition to a better system for everyone."

Smucker told the Eagle’s Shuey that the AHCA plan is better than what people have now.

"It's time for change," he said in the phone interview. "People are facing skyrocketing premiums and deductibles they simply cannot afford. This will create a system that provides access to care that people can afford."

About 870 people in Zip Codes 19608 and 19565 enrolled in Obamacare last year.

Many people and groups oppose the American Health Care Act, claiming it won’t replace the benefits that millions have received under Obamacare, that it reduces taxes on rich people and that insurance premiums rose faster before Obamacare was put in place.

Opponents include: 

• The American Medical Association
• AARP [which represents older people]
• America’s Health Insurance Plans
• American Hospital Association
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• Federation of American Hospitals
• The New York Times
• The Washington Post
• The Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank
• The Brookings Institute
• The Heritage Foundation
• The American Enterprise Institute
• Many conservative Republicans
• Virtually every Democrat