It would "affect the cost of vaccines, tests, and treatments, restrict access to Medicaid and telehealth, and restart student loan payments."
JAKE JOHNSON For Common Dreams
Thirteen
members of the Senate Democratic caucus—including Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer—joined Republicans on Tuesday in approving a resolution that would
terminate the national emergency declaration for Covid-19, a move that would
kick millions of people off Medicaid as experts warn of a winter infection and hospitalization surge.
Joe Biden has said he will veto this resolution if it is also
passed by the House
While
the White House said Tuesday that President Joe Biden
will veto the resolution if it passes the House and reaches his desk, the
Senate vote sparked outrage among public health experts and others who stressed
the far-reaching implications of the
resolution.
"This is appalling," tweeted Dr. Lucky Tran, a scientist and public health advocate. "This will affect the cost of vaccines, tests, and treatments, restrict access to Medicaid and telehealth, and restart student loan payments."
"Ending
the Covid-19 Emergency Declaration will be disastrous for millions of Americans
who are struggling to access healthcare, make rent, and pay off their student
loans," Tran added.
Joining
Schumer in voting for the resolution were Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Kyrsten
Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Jon Tester
(D-Mont.), Angus King (I-Maine), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.),
Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.),
and Catherine Marie Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).
Every
Senate Republican with the exception of Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.)—who did not
vote—also backed the resolution, which was put forth by Sen. Roger Marshall
(R-Kan.).
In
a statement on Tuesday, the White House
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) warned that enactment of the resolution
would "unnecessarily and abruptly curtail the ability of the
administration to respond to Covid-19."
"Preserving
our ability to respond is more important than ever as we head into the winter,
when respiratory illnesses such as Covid-19 typically spread more easily,"
the OMB said. "Strengthened by the ongoing declaration of national
emergency, the federal response to Covid-19 continues to save lives, improve
health outcomes, and support the American economy. Action by Congress to end
these authorities abruptly and prematurely would be a reckless and costly
mistake."
"If
Congress passes this resolution," the agency added, "the president
will veto it."
The
Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a measure that Congress approved in
2020, loosened Medicaid eligibility requirements and restricted states from
removing people from the program for the duration of the national emergency,
which is currently set to expire in January.
The
legislation's continuous coverage mandate allowed millions of people to obtain and
keep health insurance as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy, throwing
people out of work and off their employer-sponsored plans.
In
a report released in August, the Biden
Health and Human Services Department estimated that around 15 million
people—including millions of kids—could lose Medicaid and Children's Health
Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage once the public health emergency declaration
ends.
Advocates
have also warned that millions of people across the U.S. could see their food benefits cut substantially once the
Covid-19 emergency declaration ends.
"The
U.S. must be ready to ensure that it does not jeopardize the health and food
needs of households across the country," a trio of experts wrote in a STAT op-ed
last month. "Urgent action by healthcare systems, community organizations,
and all levels of government will be necessary to stabilize health and food
security among those at greatest risk."
"While
vaccines and treatments lessen the life-altering threat of Covid-19," they
added, "it is important not to lose sight of the imminent danger to health
posed by the expiration of effective expansions of Medicaid and SNAP."