1 00:00:00,305 --> 00:00:03,925 Awesome. It looks like we have everyone here and we are good 2 00:00:03,925 --> 00:00:08,005 to get started so first of all. Thank you everyone for joining 3 00:00:08,005 --> 00:00:11,285 Congressman DeFazio virtual round table today we'll be 4 00:00:11,285 --> 00:00:14,165 discussing protecting affordable health care. We'll 5 00:00:14,165 --> 00:00:17,285 start with remarks from the congressman and then move on to 6 00:00:17,285 --> 00:00:20,565 introductions from our round table participants and then 7 00:00:20,565 --> 00:00:23,925 turn to our round table discussion Following that 8 00:00:23,925 --> 00:00:27,765 discussion, we'll have AQ and a where uh reporters may ask 9 00:00:27,765 --> 00:00:30,485 questions to either the participants with congressman 10 00:00:30,485 --> 00:00:33,425 so I will now turn. Congressman de Blasio for his opening 11 00:00:33,425 --> 00:00:38,305 remarks congressman uh well Thanks King uh you know here we 12 00:00:38,305 --> 00:00:41,905 are in the virtual coveted world. I was just talking to 13 00:00:41,905 --> 00:00:45,585 the participants. This would be so much better if we could be 14 00:00:45,585 --> 00:00:48,785 sitting around the table and talking about these uh this 15 00:00:48,785 --> 00:00:51,185 issue, which is very serious, which is the way I've done by 16 00:00:51,185 --> 00:00:55,985 any of these things in the past uh but this is a new reality uh 17 00:00:55,985 --> 00:01:00,225 and the reality is we're in the midst of uh a pandemic over 18 00:01:00,225 --> 00:01:04,625 220000 deaths. Uh you know cases are spiking uh all 19 00:01:04,625 --> 00:01:09,145 across. America uh organs doing better than a lot, but uh we're 20 00:01:09,145 --> 00:01:15,145 going up to uh and uh you know this is uh a very serious 21 00:01:15,145 --> 00:01:19,065 disease in a very serious time. Many people uh have lost their 22 00:01:19,065 --> 00:01:22,745 jobs and consequently have lost their health insurance. That's 23 00:01:22,745 --> 00:01:25,545 been a huge increase in the number of people on the Oregon 24 00:01:25,545 --> 00:01:29,065 health plan uh and if we pass the heroes bill, there will be 25 00:01:29,065 --> 00:01:32,505 other uh assistance to provide uh health care to people who 26 00:01:32,505 --> 00:01:38,825 have lost it uh because of the. Pandemic uh but you know 27 00:01:38,825 --> 00:01:44,025 campaigns should be about issues uh nots and or made-up 28 00:01:44,025 --> 00:01:46,905 stuff it should be about well. What are you gonna do this 29 00:01:46,905 --> 00:01:50,345 pretty serious job? How are you gonna vote when you get there? 30 00:01:50,345 --> 00:01:55,305 Uh you know? okay. So let's that's why we're here today. Uh 31 00:01:55,305 --> 00:01:58,425 my opponent has said he is against government run health 32 00:01:58,425 --> 00:02:05,305 care. now that's a pretty global uh. Uh declaration now, 33 00:02:05,305 --> 00:02:08,025 he said, Oh, well he didn't mean Medicare Medicaid and 34 00:02:08,025 --> 00:02:10,665 veterans well, he said He's against government health care 35 00:02:10,665 --> 00:02:14,425 and those are all government programs by the way I remember 36 00:02:14,425 --> 00:02:17,705 when we're doing the Aca and I actually had those people come 37 00:02:17,705 --> 00:02:20,665 on who would say, Hey, you know, tell the government to 38 00:02:20,665 --> 00:02:24,265 keep its hands off my Medicare. Well, it is a government 39 00:02:24,265 --> 00:02:29,465 programs uh and uh he has then came out for repeal of the 40 00:02:29,465 --> 00:02:33,145 Affordable Care Act, which has been uh a Republican mantra for 41 00:02:33,145 --> 00:02:36,525 a decade uh the house. Republicans controlled the 42 00:02:36,525 --> 00:02:40,525 house for 8 years. I believe we had uh close to seventy votes 43 00:02:40,525 --> 00:02:43,965 on repealing affordable health care and the mantra always was 44 00:02:43,965 --> 00:02:48,045 repealing replaced. There were no votes to replace there is no 45 00:02:48,045 --> 00:02:52,205 replaced. They've had 10 years to come up with a replaced no 46 00:02:52,205 --> 00:02:57,005 replaced and then uh we have President Trump. he ran on 47 00:02:57,005 --> 00:03:03,085 repealing the Affordable Health Care Act and um the president 48 00:03:03,085 --> 00:03:06,845 said. Well, I'll have something better my. Better much better 49 00:03:06,845 --> 00:03:09,645 It'll be fabulous. Everybody will have better insurance and 50 00:03:09,645 --> 00:03:14,445 it will cost less well. He's had 4 years in the White House 51 00:03:14,445 --> 00:03:19,325 and there's no plan. and now you know I have uh a young 52 00:03:19,325 --> 00:03:23,565 opponent who says he's he's with Donald Trump and he's with 53 00:03:23,565 --> 00:03:26,605 uh he's with the Republican majority in Congress. Well, 54 00:03:26,605 --> 00:03:31,565 here's the deal. The Supreme Court is gonna vote on uh 55 00:03:31,565 --> 00:03:35,005 overturning the Affordable Health Care Act uh probably 56 00:03:35,005 --> 00:03:40,525 within uh by the end of November. And uh given the new 57 00:03:40,525 --> 00:03:44,365 appointment and previous decisions uh it appears they 58 00:03:44,365 --> 00:03:48,685 will overturn the Affordable Health Care Act. Uh and there 59 00:03:48,685 --> 00:03:54,045 is no immediate replacement. Congress can replace uh the 60 00:03:54,045 --> 00:03:57,805 health Care Act with something even better. Um you know I was 61 00:03:57,805 --> 00:04:00,205 uh a reluctant vote for it because it was the Senate 62 00:04:00,205 --> 00:04:03,565 version. The House version was infinitely better. We had 63 00:04:03,565 --> 00:04:08,725 national exchanges, which would have meant way less expensive. 64 00:04:08,725 --> 00:04:12,165 Policies uh it had my amendment to take away the anti-trust 65 00:04:12,165 --> 00:04:14,565 immunity of the health insurance industry, which by 66 00:04:14,565 --> 00:04:19,205 the way I passed again in this Congress uh with uh a unanimous 67 00:04:19,205 --> 00:04:22,325 vote is that about a month ago, all the Republicans even voted 68 00:04:22,325 --> 00:04:26,325 for that uh because a consumer report says, I would say 69 00:04:26,325 --> 00:04:30,085 consumers billions of dollars a year in premium cost. those 70 00:04:30,085 --> 00:04:31,765 things were in the house version. We had to take the 71 00:04:31,765 --> 00:04:34,725 Senate version cuz uh Teddy Kennedy died and the Senate has 72 00:04:34,725 --> 00:04:38,305 a stupid filibuster uh and we weren't allowed. Amend to 73 00:04:38,305 --> 00:04:42,225 change and improve it uh in any way so from day one, it needed 74 00:04:42,225 --> 00:04:46,945 a lot of work and instead of working on making it better uh 75 00:04:46,945 --> 00:04:51,425 the Republicans when they took over work on making it worse uh 76 00:04:51,425 --> 00:04:54,625 and now finally, they're gonna have their day in court to uh 77 00:04:54,625 --> 00:04:58,545 to totally repeal it since they could never even even though 78 00:04:58,545 --> 00:05:01,745 they controlled the house, the White House and the Senate. 79 00:05:01,745 --> 00:05:04,385 they couldn't quite get the voting to repeal it because 80 00:05:04,385 --> 00:05:07,425 they didn't have anything to replace it with uh we're gonna 81 00:05:07,425 --> 00:05:11,985 hear from. People today who will talk about uh what it 82 00:05:11,985 --> 00:05:16,225 means to have the Affordable Health Care Act in place uh in 83 00:05:16,225 --> 00:05:20,465 my district, it's pretty specific. If it's repealed, 84 00:05:20,465 --> 00:05:24,545 73000 people immediately lose their organ health plan. 85 00:05:24,545 --> 00:05:28,225 They're supported under the Affordable Care Act. The state 86 00:05:28,225 --> 00:05:32,385 uh can't pick them up some people don't remember before we 87 00:05:32,385 --> 00:05:36,145 had the Affordable Health Care Act in Oregon if you were 88 00:05:36,145 --> 00:05:41,605 Medicaid eligible. Is what the Oregon health plan is uh if you 89 00:05:41,605 --> 00:05:45,445 met all of the you know statistics very low income uh 90 00:05:45,445 --> 00:05:51,685 need uh you were put into a lottery to see whether or not 91 00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:55,925 you can get on the plan uh and every year tens of thousands of 92 00:05:55,925 --> 00:05:59,685 people were not allowed to get on the plan because they didn't 93 00:05:59,685 --> 00:06:03,765 win the lottery. We don't have lotteries anymore and people 94 00:06:03,765 --> 00:06:08,865 are on the plan. It's a solid plan. It's good coverage. 73000 95 00:06:08,865 --> 00:06:13,585 people in my district uh 270000 statewide immediately lose all 96 00:06:13,585 --> 00:06:17,745 their health insurance all their health insurance and then 97 00:06:17,745 --> 00:06:23,825 uh we have in my district well over 300000 people who the 98 00:06:23,825 --> 00:06:28,225 insurance industry says have preexisting conditions uh and 99 00:06:28,225 --> 00:06:30,625 before the Affordable Health Care Act, they could refuse to 100 00:06:30,625 --> 00:06:33,745 sell you a policy cuz you had a preexisting condition. They 101 00:06:33,745 --> 00:06:36,785 could exclude your preexisting condition from coverage under 102 00:06:36,785 --> 00:06:40,205 their policy. They can charge you an absolute. The extortion 103 00:06:40,205 --> 00:06:44,445 of premium uh because you had a preexisting condition that 104 00:06:44,445 --> 00:06:47,085 doesn't happen anymore cuz the Affordable Health Care Act, but 105 00:06:47,085 --> 00:06:51,005 that goes away for more than 300000 people, including 36000 106 00:06:51,005 --> 00:06:55,325 kids. the day, The act is repealed and then finally there 107 00:06:55,325 --> 00:06:59,325 was something called uh you know. Medicare Part D uh was 108 00:06:59,325 --> 00:07:03,485 again written by Republican Congress. It was and um you 109 00:07:03,485 --> 00:07:06,925 know it's it's better than nothing, but we could have had 110 00:07:06,925 --> 00:07:11,125 a much better prescription drug program uh for. Seniors, but 111 00:07:11,125 --> 00:07:16,805 it's absolutely a lifeline for many many many seniors uh and I 112 00:07:16,805 --> 00:07:19,845 have one of the highest concentrations of people on 113 00:07:19,845 --> 00:07:25,365 Medicare, Part D in my district uh in the country. 155000 114 00:07:25,365 --> 00:07:28,405 people in my district are on Medicare, Part d for 115 00:07:28,405 --> 00:07:32,085 prescription drug coverage before the Affordable Care Act. 116 00:07:32,085 --> 00:07:37,125 Uh you had a copay uh but then when you got to $2000 of uh 117 00:07:37,125 --> 00:07:39,605 expenses, you fell into something called the doughnut 118 00:07:39,605 --> 00:07:47,725 hole and for the next twenty. $400 $2400 you had to pay 100% 119 00:07:47,725 --> 00:07:49,885 and then when you finally climbed out of the doughnut 120 00:07:49,885 --> 00:07:55,805 hole after uh $4400 of prescription drug cost uh you 121 00:07:55,805 --> 00:07:59,405 would again get to pay copays and have coverage. The 122 00:07:59,405 --> 00:08:03,405 Affordable Care Act did away with the doughnut hole. uh so 123 00:08:03,405 --> 00:08:12,205 uh that uh would subject 155000 people to uh copays uh and uh. 124 00:08:12,205 --> 00:08:16,365 At an extra cost of $2400 next year, I don't know a lot of 125 00:08:16,365 --> 00:08:21,085 people uh on Medicare, Part D, who can afford another 2400 126 00:08:21,085 --> 00:08:23,725 bucks a year for their insurance. That's what's at 127 00:08:23,725 --> 00:08:30,525 stake. This is deadly serious. So um with that, I'm I'd like 128 00:08:30,525 --> 00:08:35,405 to uh move on to our panelists who can uh actually uh you 129 00:08:35,405 --> 00:08:41,645 know, put some real facts and real life situations on this. 130 00:08:41,645 --> 00:08:44,325 absolutely. thank you. Congressman I'll now turn to 131 00:08:44,325 --> 00:08:47,365 our panel today for their introductions uh and for a 132 00:08:47,365 --> 00:08:49,525 chance for them to tell us about themselves. Uh we'll 133 00:08:49,525 --> 00:08:56,565 start with Donna Courtney. Hello, um I am an RN care 134 00:08:56,565 --> 00:09:02,485 manager and I had the opportunity to work in private 135 00:09:02,485 --> 00:09:06,325 and Oregon health plan insurance companies for over a 136 00:09:06,325 --> 00:09:10,405 decade. I had the opportunity to do underwriting and to see 137 00:09:10,405 --> 00:09:14,565 the worst of preexisting. so I feel honored to be a part of 138 00:09:14,565 --> 00:09:20,485 the panel. uh today I am a small business owner and uh 139 00:09:20,485 --> 00:09:24,865 still support seniors in Oregon. I am part of the 140 00:09:24,865 --> 00:09:28,865 Governor's Commission for senior Services and senior 141 00:09:28,865 --> 00:09:32,865 support Coalition that we raise money for cost that are not 142 00:09:32,865 --> 00:09:37,265 covered under um Oregon health plan or Medicaid benefits. 143 00:09:37,265 --> 00:09:42,525 Thank you. Thank you. Donna will now turn to Chris Jennings 144 00:09:42,525 --> 00:09:47,405 for their instruction. Hi. I'm Chris Jennings. Thank you very 145 00:09:47,405 --> 00:09:50,445 much for having me today. I really appreciate the 146 00:09:50,445 --> 00:09:54,445 opportunity. Um I am a social security recipient. I'm 147 00:09:54,445 --> 00:09:58,765 retired. I'm 66 years old. I used to work in the medical 148 00:09:58,765 --> 00:10:02,605 profession as a surgery scheduler at Riverbend. I do 149 00:10:02,605 --> 00:10:05,485 receive quite a bit of help through the Medicaid expansion 150 00:10:05,485 --> 00:10:11,725 for me for Medicare recipients and I believe that um the. Of 151 00:10:11,725 --> 00:10:15,645 the Oregon or excuse me, the uh Aca will be detrimental to not 152 00:10:15,645 --> 00:10:21,725 only to myself, but to many other um people country wide. 153 00:10:21,725 --> 00:10:25,745 Thank you Chris uh Timothy Morris if you would like to 154 00:10:25,745 --> 00:10:29,985 introduce yourself. Uh hi, good morning or good afternoon. 155 00:10:29,985 --> 00:10:33,345 Excuse me. Um my name is Timothy Morris I live in Eugene 156 00:10:33,345 --> 00:10:37,185 Oregon and I'm uh one of the people covered by the expanded 157 00:10:37,185 --> 00:10:41,665 Medicaid um for uh under or health plan and only until 158 00:10:41,665 --> 00:10:46,865 recently um when I lost my job uh and now I'm really reliant 159 00:10:46,865 --> 00:10:52,705 on the Oregon Health plan to continue my success in my home. 160 00:10:52,705 --> 00:10:59,865 Thank you Timothy and finally Donna Donna Roberts. 161 00:11:05,305 --> 00:11:09,085 Hey there, Donna Yeah. I'm right here. Can you hear me? 162 00:11:09,085 --> 00:11:13,085 Yes. Do you wanna introduce yourself my name is Donna 163 00:11:13,085 --> 00:11:18,045 Willoughby Roberts and um I'm a person of a preexisting 164 00:11:18,045 --> 00:11:22,525 condition of a kidney disease. I'm a part-time faculty for 18 165 00:11:22,525 --> 00:11:25,165 years at Lynn Community College and I've been really fortunate 166 00:11:25,165 --> 00:11:29,245 to have and keep the insurance there throughout all the ups 167 00:11:29,245 --> 00:11:31,245 and downs that I've been going through. I'm currently on 168 00:11:31,245 --> 00:11:37,945 dialysis. I have a Medicare Part B and um. On the 169 00:11:37,945 --> 00:11:40,985 transplant list. 170 00:11:41,725 --> 00:11:45,025 Thank you, Donna and thank you everyone for uh joining us 171 00:11:45,025 --> 00:11:49,265 today again. I'll now turn to Congressman DeFazio uh for our 172 00:11:49,265 --> 00:11:54,225 round table discussion and for questions for our panel. Yeah, 173 00:11:54,225 --> 00:11:58,385 well, um thanks everybody. you know I know it's not easy to uh 174 00:11:58,385 --> 00:12:02,625 you know to go public and talk about uh concerns and problems 175 00:12:02,625 --> 00:12:07,105 you have and I really appreciate your willingness uh 176 00:12:07,105 --> 00:12:11,585 to do this. Um you know with the with the pandemic raging 177 00:12:11,585 --> 00:12:16,225 there's uh quite a few people uh and we've seen stories there 178 00:12:16,225 --> 00:12:19,825 was one in the guard. It was very touching about a young 179 00:12:19,825 --> 00:12:22,625 woman who had been a marathon runner and now can't even walk 180 00:12:22,625 --> 00:12:26,565 up a flight of stairs 5 months later after having had. 181 00:12:26,565 --> 00:12:30,885 Covenant and many other people have long-term impacts uh so 182 00:12:30,885 --> 00:12:36,245 it's quite likely uh that uh insurance companies will 183 00:12:36,245 --> 00:12:39,525 consider anything that they could relate to covenant as a 184 00:12:39,525 --> 00:12:46,165 preexisting condition. Uh and I mean I just like to have like 185 00:12:46,165 --> 00:12:51,605 Chris uh and uh and Tim answered what it would mean if 186 00:12:51,605 --> 00:12:57,865 suddenly uh let's just say they had covenant and they. You know 187 00:12:57,865 --> 00:13:02,345 later couldn't uh keep their health care or anything related 188 00:13:02,345 --> 00:13:05,785 or the insurance company deemed related to that was not 189 00:13:05,785 --> 00:13:07,705 covered. What what would that mean? how would how would you 190 00:13:07,705 --> 00:13:10,345 deal with that? 191 00:13:11,565 --> 00:13:17,185 Well for me, I already uh have a preexisting condition. I was 192 00:13:17,185 --> 00:13:22,625 um hospitalized this June for um multiple blood clots in my 193 00:13:22,625 --> 00:13:27,505 lungs and um I was tested for coveted at that time and I was 194 00:13:27,505 --> 00:13:31,505 negative and admitted to the hospital for 4 days. Um I'm 195 00:13:31,505 --> 00:13:36,145 very careful not to catch covet. I social distance. I 196 00:13:36,145 --> 00:13:39,105 don't go out much. I wear a mask if I do have to go out for 197 00:13:39,105 --> 00:13:44,285 any reason and to. Um to lose any kind of coverage that I 198 00:13:44,285 --> 00:13:48,445 have um, I really don't know how I would be able to pay for 199 00:13:48,445 --> 00:13:51,725 it. I'm a social security recipient as I said, and I make 200 00:13:51,725 --> 00:13:55,565 less than $1200 a month on social security. so the 201 00:13:55,565 --> 00:14:01,005 Medicaid expansion and my drug coverage has really helped me 202 00:14:01,005 --> 00:14:07,565 one of the medications I was on for my blood clots um cost $485 203 00:14:07,565 --> 00:14:11,145 for a one-month supply, but with the help I get through. A 204 00:14:11,145 --> 00:14:15,865 Medicaid expansion for the from the Aca I only paid $8.95 per 205 00:14:15,865 --> 00:14:20,185 month for that, so now that I don't have that problem, but if 206 00:14:20,185 --> 00:14:23,545 you get something else or if you get coveted costs are 207 00:14:23,545 --> 00:14:26,025 really out of control for people and if you don't have 208 00:14:26,025 --> 00:14:29,945 some help and you don't have savings or a good job or 209 00:14:29,945 --> 00:14:34,265 retirement plan, then you're just kind of out of luck. 210 00:14:35,725 --> 00:14:40,305 Uh yeah. Yeah. if I can if I can follow up with that, I am 211 00:14:40,305 --> 00:14:45,105 you know even before the pandemic um my mom was someone 212 00:14:45,105 --> 00:14:48,785 who got really sick and um you know I watched her navigate 213 00:14:48,785 --> 00:14:51,345 through before the Affordable Care Act through the Affordable 214 00:14:51,345 --> 00:14:54,465 Care Act and it's a night and day kind of difference of you 215 00:14:54,465 --> 00:14:57,985 know the staying up in the middle of the night and sitting 216 00:14:57,985 --> 00:15:00,545 at the kitchen table wondering what bills we're not gonna pay 217 00:15:00,545 --> 00:15:03,185 so that we could pay for medications or treatments or 218 00:15:03,185 --> 00:15:08,605 things like that. um but you know. Even with all of the 219 00:15:08,605 --> 00:15:12,765 Affordable Care Act um and with all of that support, I still 220 00:15:12,765 --> 00:15:17,405 saw my family get shouldered with massive amounts of um 221 00:15:17,405 --> 00:15:22,685 medical debt and um you know I uh if my mom was still alive 222 00:15:22,685 --> 00:15:26,445 today, she would be someone who um would have a preexisting 223 00:15:26,445 --> 00:15:30,525 condition and with things like covet, my family um would be 224 00:15:30,525 --> 00:15:35,645 under an even more enormous medical debt and um would not 225 00:15:35,645 --> 00:15:38,225 be. To survive and I know that's something that I would 226 00:15:38,225 --> 00:15:42,945 have to face as well is um if you know my dad were to pass 227 00:15:42,945 --> 00:15:45,425 away where is that medical debt go, it goes to you know my 228 00:15:45,425 --> 00:15:48,465 brothers and I and we're the ones paying that often that's 229 00:15:48,465 --> 00:15:51,585 uh that's a real rough legacy to leave you know your family 230 00:15:51,585 --> 00:15:54,945 um and that's actually a conversation that my mom had 231 00:15:54,945 --> 00:15:57,505 with our family before she passed away. That's not what 232 00:15:57,505 --> 00:16:01,345 she wanted to leave behind and so um you know the affordable 233 00:16:01,345 --> 00:16:05,665 care uh and for me, Oh really gives me a peace of mind that 234 00:16:05,665 --> 00:16:09,425 like I mean even earlier. This morning, I almost slipped in 235 00:16:09,425 --> 00:16:13,905 the shower and I thought about it like this could be the day 236 00:16:13,905 --> 00:16:17,745 that everything goes downhill. you know is it's a real rough 237 00:16:17,745 --> 00:16:21,585 uh life before your eyes kinda moment and um you know if it 238 00:16:21,585 --> 00:16:25,745 wasn't for oh, that fear would have been that my life would be 239 00:16:25,745 --> 00:16:28,625 forever changed because of because of that because of 240 00:16:28,625 --> 00:16:33,985 medical bills. uh yeah that you know there's two great points. 241 00:16:33,985 --> 00:16:36,545 I wanna follow up on. I mean what Chris raised is the 242 00:16:36,545 --> 00:16:40,565 exorbitant price of pharmaceuticals. Uh you know. 243 00:16:40,565 --> 00:16:46,645 Every other uh major government on Earth negotiates lower drug 244 00:16:46,645 --> 00:16:50,245 prices for all their citizens with the pharmaceutical 245 00:16:50,245 --> 00:16:53,685 industry. That's why you can buy uh the identical drug in 246 00:16:53,685 --> 00:16:58,965 Canada for sometimes 20% or 10% of the price. uh here in the 247 00:16:58,965 --> 00:17:02,485 United States of America. Uh the Republicans in the Medicare 248 00:17:02,485 --> 00:17:05,685 Part D Bill prohibited the government from negotiating 249 00:17:05,685 --> 00:17:09,525 lower drug prices. We do it for veterans. We get huge discounts 250 00:17:09,525 --> 00:17:14,305 we do. Do it uh for Medicaid and we get discounts We should 251 00:17:14,305 --> 00:17:16,785 be doing it for everybody, but that would be government 252 00:17:16,785 --> 00:17:19,025 interference in the free market and health care, which, of 253 00:17:19,025 --> 00:17:23,985 course uh my opponent and the Republicans uh generally are 254 00:17:23,985 --> 00:17:28,545 against uh and then what Tim raised about that. uh one of my 255 00:17:28,545 --> 00:17:32,385 best friends Uh was the chief financial officer at the old 256 00:17:32,385 --> 00:17:35,185 McKenzie Willamette before it became a corporation and you 257 00:17:35,185 --> 00:17:37,105 know it was a community hospital and they tried to be 258 00:17:37,105 --> 00:17:41,425 really good to people, but they you know they. Run without 259 00:17:41,425 --> 00:17:45,745 revenue and 1 day, I was talking to him and he says you 260 00:17:45,745 --> 00:17:48,225 know I'm quitting my job and I said Steve. why why are you 261 00:17:48,225 --> 00:17:50,305 quitting your job? Be like you know you love working there, He 262 00:17:50,305 --> 00:17:55,505 says. I'm tired of taking away people's houses. That's what 263 00:17:55,505 --> 00:18:00,065 the end result of those run up bills would be for many people 264 00:18:00,065 --> 00:18:04,305 and uh that doesn't happen anymore with the out-of-pocket 265 00:18:04,305 --> 00:18:08,145 limits and everything would be affordable Care act. um let 266 00:18:08,145 --> 00:18:13,565 let's then move on. To uh you know what happens if uh the 267 00:18:13,565 --> 00:18:17,885 Supreme Court after the November 8 hearing, uh you 268 00:18:17,885 --> 00:18:23,645 know, Repeals the Affordable Care Act uh and it's uh in it's 269 00:18:23,645 --> 00:18:29,005 entirety uh as I said before I mean 72000 people in my 270 00:18:29,005 --> 00:18:33,725 district on the extended Medicaid or health plan uh 271 00:18:33,725 --> 00:18:37,805 would immediately lose all coverage um and I mean what 272 00:18:37,805 --> 00:18:43,085 would mean to your family or uh or uh the people that you work 273 00:18:43,085 --> 00:18:49,005 with. Uh Donna uh perhaps you didn't answer first and ten. 274 00:18:49,645 --> 00:18:56,225 Um what it would mean to my family. um we are not quite on 275 00:18:56,225 --> 00:19:02,305 the transplant list for um one of our children and I have a 276 00:19:02,305 --> 00:19:05,745 grandchild and I'm also a health care representative for 277 00:19:05,745 --> 00:19:11,505 my brother that is very uh disabled. The impact of the 278 00:19:11,505 --> 00:19:19,505 Affordable Care Act going away would be catastrophic. And we 279 00:19:19,505 --> 00:19:22,945 would try to step up the best we could with our resources to 280 00:19:22,945 --> 00:19:30,185 help but. Knowing preexisting works and no insurance before 281 00:19:30,185 --> 00:19:34,345 Oregon health plan, I know how ugly it is. I was an 282 00:19:34,345 --> 00:19:38,425 exceptional needs case manager for Oregon Health plan and it's 283 00:19:38,425 --> 00:19:42,265 inception and I was so thrilled to be a part of that program. 284 00:19:42,265 --> 00:19:45,465 because finally, people have really good insurance that 285 00:19:45,465 --> 00:19:50,745 really we could help them with and if it goes away um it's 286 00:19:50,745 --> 00:19:54,505 it's gonna have a huge impact for not only the people on the 287 00:19:54,505 --> 00:19:58,425 plan but all of their family. And their loved ones trying to 288 00:19:58,425 --> 00:20:02,985 figure out how to meet their needs. I can't I can't believe 289 00:20:02,985 --> 00:20:08,745 people don't understand the impact of the uh affordable 290 00:20:08,745 --> 00:20:15,305 health care going away. Uh thanks Tim you wanna chime in 291 00:20:15,305 --> 00:20:20,345 on that. Um you know my as I mentioned before my family has 292 00:20:20,345 --> 00:20:23,785 received a lot of a lot of medical debt. Um you know just 293 00:20:23,785 --> 00:20:27,785 to kind of sum up where my thinking is in kind of a story 294 00:20:27,785 --> 00:20:31,905 that uh during this pandemic I. I ran out of my prescription 295 00:20:31,905 --> 00:20:33,985 medications and had to order more and it's the first time 296 00:20:33,985 --> 00:20:37,025 I've done anything with the Affordable health care plan and 297 00:20:37,025 --> 00:20:40,705 I was very nervous. I didn't know what was gonna happen. Um 298 00:20:40,705 --> 00:20:43,505 you know, I didn't know what to expect. I walked in, said my 299 00:20:43,505 --> 00:20:45,745 name. He handed me my medication and said, have a 300 00:20:45,745 --> 00:20:49,985 great day and that was it was very simple. Very streamlined. 301 00:20:49,985 --> 00:20:54,545 There was no gambling, no negotiations, no wondering if 302 00:20:54,545 --> 00:21:00,045 something's gonna cost $10 or $50000. I think you know. It's 303 00:21:00,045 --> 00:21:03,725 not only a peace of mind for me if something goes wrong. It's a 304 00:21:03,725 --> 00:21:08,365 peace of mind knowing that you know, I'm covered. I'm I'm I'm 305 00:21:08,365 --> 00:21:12,525 taking care of and uh if that's stripped away, you know, 306 00:21:12,525 --> 00:21:14,765 especially during Covenant nineteen, especially during a 307 00:21:14,765 --> 00:21:18,365 pandemic like this. That's a peace of mind that we simply 308 00:21:18,365 --> 00:21:24,825 can't afford to lose. Yeah, I'd that reminded me of before the 309 00:21:24,825 --> 00:21:30,105 Aca Uh I was visiting a pharmacist Pharm in Roseburg 310 00:21:30,105 --> 00:21:33,705 area and I was talking to the pharmacist and he said. You 311 00:21:33,705 --> 00:21:37,465 know it's just just sad. He said. These older couples come 312 00:21:37,465 --> 00:21:42,105 in and they come up and they say how much are our 313 00:21:42,105 --> 00:21:44,985 prescriptions this month because they go up almost every 314 00:21:44,985 --> 00:21:48,985 month even though it's the same drug uh there's no research or 315 00:21:48,985 --> 00:21:53,105 development involved and um. And he says then they'll go 316 00:21:53,105 --> 00:21:55,345 over and sit on that bench over there and he pointed and he 317 00:21:55,345 --> 00:21:58,305 says, and they'll have a discussion and they'll figure 318 00:21:58,305 --> 00:22:01,585 out which one of them can afford their medications this 319 00:22:01,585 --> 00:22:04,305 month or which medications they can afford and then they come 320 00:22:04,305 --> 00:22:08,545 back up and they can't get them all. um you know that doesn't 321 00:22:08,545 --> 00:22:15,245 happen anymore uh but it will happen again. And then um you 322 00:22:15,245 --> 00:22:20,205 know I mean anybody can chime in on this uh you know if uh 323 00:22:20,205 --> 00:22:23,485 you know just thinking of the potential consequences given 324 00:22:23,485 --> 00:22:29,005 you a various circumstances uh if suddenly uh you know the uh 325 00:22:29,005 --> 00:22:34,125 the support is gone uh under the uh a uh on preexisting 326 00:22:34,125 --> 00:22:40,365 conditions on uh you know on prescription drugs uh and uh 327 00:22:40,365 --> 00:22:45,545 you know on uh. Uh you know you're I mean just your 328 00:22:45,545 --> 00:22:50,905 insurance goes away altogether. I mean, do any of you and 329 00:22:50,905 --> 00:22:55,385 anybody can jump in on this like you could afford to go out 330 00:22:55,385 --> 00:23:00,745 and buy a private policy and get by. 331 00:23:02,225 --> 00:23:09,365 Uh Chris or Tim. Well, I also um besides getting the 332 00:23:09,365 --> 00:23:13,525 wonderful uh benefit from my prescriptions generics are 333 00:23:13,525 --> 00:23:21,285 $3.19 and non generics are $8.95. um the uh Aca also pays 334 00:23:21,285 --> 00:23:25,605 my premium for Medicare every month. um so I don't have that 335 00:23:25,605 --> 00:23:31,765 cost. I believe it's 144 $148. I also have no copays to for 336 00:23:31,765 --> 00:23:38,645 any preventative uh PC visits and I only have a $40 copay um. 337 00:23:38,645 --> 00:23:42,965 When I go to see a specialist, so no I on $1200 a month, I 338 00:23:42,965 --> 00:23:46,405 don't know II really don't know at this point what I would not 339 00:23:46,405 --> 00:23:49,205 be able to do. 340 00:23:50,565 --> 00:23:56,505 Uh yeah uh to really directly answer your question. If I my 341 00:23:56,505 --> 00:24:00,345 own financial situation would be thrown through 100 different 342 00:24:00,345 --> 00:24:04,905 loops. I lost my job back in March. I got or excuse me I fur 343 00:24:04,905 --> 00:24:07,625 loaded in March. I lost my job back in May because of 344 00:24:07,625 --> 00:24:14,185 covid-nineteen and um since then it's it's just been a uh a 345 00:24:14,185 --> 00:24:17,465 balancing act of what bills I can pay what bills I can kind 346 00:24:17,465 --> 00:24:20,585 of put off for the month. What I can renegotiate or you know 347 00:24:20,585 --> 00:24:24,225 um change down the road and I think if I lose my. Health care 348 00:24:24,225 --> 00:24:26,785 coverage You know I've talked about losing my peace of mind, 349 00:24:26,785 --> 00:24:30,785 but I would lose so much more as well. I've lose access to 350 00:24:30,785 --> 00:24:34,545 prescription drugs. I'd lose access to being able to see a 351 00:24:34,545 --> 00:24:37,585 doctor for just to check up. uh you know everything like that. 352 00:24:37,585 --> 00:24:43,025 and I think uh you know one of the big negotiations that I've 353 00:24:43,025 --> 00:24:46,705 done already is those sleepless nights where I'm staring up at 354 00:24:46,705 --> 00:24:51,025 the ceiling and wondering if you know I paid off my car 355 00:24:51,025 --> 00:24:53,665 years ago and wondering if I should sell my car now to be 356 00:24:53,665 --> 00:24:57,105 able to afford to pay rent. Something like that or if I 357 00:24:57,105 --> 00:24:59,505 lose my health care coverage, affording my prescription 358 00:24:59,505 --> 00:25:04,145 drugs. um you know if I should sell my car or if I should keep 359 00:25:04,145 --> 00:25:06,225 it because that's where I'm gonna be sleeping when I lose 360 00:25:06,225 --> 00:25:09,825 my home and so that's that's the that's the fight that I 361 00:25:09,825 --> 00:25:14,225 that I have with uh losing my health care coverage. losing my 362 00:25:14,225 --> 00:25:19,265 you know everything like that is those very difficult 363 00:25:19,265 --> 00:25:27,725 sleepless nights wondering what if well um. I was gonna say 364 00:25:27,725 --> 00:25:33,805 something too sure um I am have a ton of medications that I'm 365 00:25:33,805 --> 00:25:37,245 taking right now and I'm doing dialysis and I got a dialysis 366 00:25:37,245 --> 00:25:42,525 bill for $3700. Wow that thank God. I don't have to pay 367 00:25:42,525 --> 00:25:47,485 between my um Medicare, Part B and my private insurance and 368 00:25:47,485 --> 00:25:52,525 the fact that my preexisting condition is covered right now. 369 00:25:52,525 --> 00:25:56,845 um both my husband and I are near retirement and so I'm 370 00:25:56,845 --> 00:26:00,365 worried about. The health care being pulled away and the 371 00:26:00,365 --> 00:26:03,245 preexisting being pulled away right at a time when we're 372 00:26:03,245 --> 00:26:09,005 about to retire and our income is gonna go down. Well, you 373 00:26:09,005 --> 00:26:15,705 know. Well, II mentioned earlier that uh 155000 seniors 374 00:26:15,705 --> 00:26:19,545 would be subject again to the doughnut hole. That's a copays 375 00:26:19,545 --> 00:26:25,305 plus $2400 and then copays uh on the on your prescriptions 376 00:26:25,305 --> 00:26:30,585 after that. uh you know, I mean Chris from uh from your work 377 00:26:30,585 --> 00:26:35,145 when you were working uh on these issues uh in particular 378 00:26:35,145 --> 00:26:38,985 with seniors, I mean what do you think that what would that 379 00:26:38,985 --> 00:26:47,045 mean to the 155000 people in my district? I it's just it's kind 380 00:26:47,045 --> 00:26:52,165 of uh unbelievable to me that this is even happening and um 381 00:26:52,165 --> 00:26:57,525 just as an example, I have a sister who um uh is not a 382 00:26:57,525 --> 00:27:02,485 Democrat and was not a um didn't believe in Obamacare. 383 00:27:02,485 --> 00:27:06,565 She called it instead of the Aca and she um through Medicaid 384 00:27:06,565 --> 00:27:09,525 expansion, she was able to get on the Oregon Health plan after 385 00:27:09,525 --> 00:27:13,525 not having insurance for many many years and she was bragging 386 00:27:13,525 --> 00:27:17,345 to me. Happy she was that she was able to finally have health 387 00:27:17,345 --> 00:27:20,785 insurance and I said, do you do you know how you got that 388 00:27:20,785 --> 00:27:24,625 insurance and she said, What's Oregon health plan and I said 389 00:27:24,625 --> 00:27:28,305 yes. But you got on Oregon health plan because of the Aca 390 00:27:28,305 --> 00:27:32,145 and that was through the Democrats and through uh 391 00:27:32,145 --> 00:27:35,105 President Obama and she was just shocked. She didn't even 392 00:27:35,105 --> 00:27:39,345 realize that her availability to have health care after many 393 00:27:39,345 --> 00:27:44,645 years of having nothing came through uh-um politics. She 394 00:27:44,645 --> 00:27:49,285 didn't even believe in so I think um that's just kind of 395 00:27:49,285 --> 00:27:52,085 astounding to me and then II really don't know what people 396 00:27:52,085 --> 00:27:54,405 are going to do and people should not have to make a 397 00:27:54,405 --> 00:27:58,485 choice and I luckily have family that I know would help 398 00:27:58,485 --> 00:28:05,845 me, but still my um four-day stay in the hospital was $35000 399 00:28:05,845 --> 00:28:10,045 and. You know, I know Medicare would pay part of that, but I 400 00:28:10,045 --> 00:28:12,685 would still be on the hook for the for the part that didn't 401 00:28:12,685 --> 00:28:15,885 happen and that didn't include the medication for after and 402 00:28:15,885 --> 00:28:18,605 that didn't include all the doctors and specialist that 403 00:28:18,605 --> 00:28:21,725 came in to see me. While I was in the hospital that was just a 404 00:28:21,725 --> 00:28:25,405 hospital bill. There was probably nine or $10000 more 405 00:28:25,405 --> 00:28:30,685 just from the doctors that came in to care for me. Yeah. Well, 406 00:28:30,685 --> 00:28:35,565 I don't think there's very many people uh that I represent in 407 00:28:35,565 --> 00:28:40,165 this district who could afford uh you know. A $45000 health 408 00:28:40,165 --> 00:28:44,805 care bill uh that would just be uh beyond most people's 409 00:28:44,805 --> 00:28:48,405 capability and put them in severe financial distress. The 410 00:28:48,405 --> 00:28:53,205 greatest cause of bankruptcy before the Aca uh was uninsured 411 00:28:53,205 --> 00:28:59,685 uh health emergencies uh that doesn't happen anymore, but uh 412 00:28:59,685 --> 00:29:05,605 we could go back to those days, which is would be very sad. Um 413 00:29:05,605 --> 00:29:11,045 just like um just two more real quick uh questions so we can 414 00:29:11,045 --> 00:29:17,565 see if any of the press have. Um uh answers I mean uh if if 415 00:29:17,565 --> 00:29:25,245 Donna and and uh and Donna uh could both uh talk about what 416 00:29:25,245 --> 00:29:29,805 would happen If uh preexisting coverage uh was stripped away. 417 00:29:29,805 --> 00:29:32,445 I mean they're they're either going to say you have no 418 00:29:32,445 --> 00:29:35,965 coverage for that condition or they're gonna say well, here's 419 00:29:35,965 --> 00:29:40,845 your new premium uh or they're uh just gonna deny you a policy 420 00:29:40,845 --> 00:29:44,765 altogether which they're free to do under. Uh especially with 421 00:29:44,765 --> 00:29:51,325 the Anti-trust community, well, I'd like to uh relay an 422 00:29:51,325 --> 00:29:55,565 experience I had before the ace. many of the people I know 423 00:29:55,565 --> 00:29:59,085 would reach out to me because I had the background in insurance 424 00:29:59,085 --> 00:30:02,685 and I had a friend that had a ranch in eastern Oregon, who 425 00:30:02,685 --> 00:30:06,525 developed a very significant cancer diagnosis. They were 426 00:30:06,525 --> 00:30:10,605 looking at either divorcing her her and her husband and they 427 00:30:10,605 --> 00:30:13,885 had a young child or they were afraid of losing. A ranch 428 00:30:13,885 --> 00:30:18,045 because they could not afford health insurance at that time. 429 00:30:18,045 --> 00:30:21,485 The state of Oregon had a program called Om the Oregon 430 00:30:21,485 --> 00:30:25,965 medical Insurance pool. It was very expensive. There was still 431 00:30:25,965 --> 00:30:29,405 large copays. They had something, but I don't want 432 00:30:29,405 --> 00:30:33,405 people to have to go through that again that they can't even 433 00:30:33,405 --> 00:30:36,925 imagine what preexisting means for people that have a weight 434 00:30:36,925 --> 00:30:41,245 issue or pre diabetic osteoporosis insurance 435 00:30:41,245 --> 00:30:46,385 companies have the opportunity to deny anyone on any recent. 436 00:30:46,385 --> 00:30:51,025 What I would find is that they would get the doctor's uh notes 437 00:30:51,025 --> 00:30:54,945 from the uh person's visits with their doctor. There would 438 00:30:54,945 --> 00:30:58,945 be things in the notes that the patient didn't even know was 439 00:30:58,945 --> 00:31:02,465 there and they could be denied for something. They didn't even 440 00:31:02,465 --> 00:31:07,425 know about so to go back to those days. We would really be 441 00:31:07,425 --> 00:31:11,425 just so catastrophic and I think people just simply don't 442 00:31:11,425 --> 00:31:17,205 realize what that looks like. Not in my situation, my father 443 00:31:17,205 --> 00:31:21,205 had this kidney disease so a generation before me um when 444 00:31:21,205 --> 00:31:23,445 they didn't have the preexisting condition 445 00:31:23,445 --> 00:31:29,125 protection that I have now and um I remember that my father 446 00:31:29,125 --> 00:31:32,405 withheld information from us about his disease because he 447 00:31:32,405 --> 00:31:36,005 didn't want us to have to lie to the insurance companies that 448 00:31:36,005 --> 00:31:40,565 we might have it um so that's kind of an interesting story. 449 00:31:40,565 --> 00:31:44,705 Um I have two other brothers so he withheld that information. 450 00:31:44,705 --> 00:31:49,505 And then once they the clause was under protection, you know 451 00:31:49,505 --> 00:31:54,305 he could be forthright with us about his situation. Wow. 452 00:31:54,305 --> 00:31:59,105 That's that's incredible story. I mean there's so many stories 453 00:31:59,105 --> 00:32:07,345 like that. Um okay. final like uh quick close. Uh you know for 454 00:32:07,345 --> 00:32:11,745 uh everybody just that is health care. uh you know in the 455 00:32:11,745 --> 00:32:15,265 continuation or even the continuation and improvement of 456 00:32:15,265 --> 00:32:18,885 health insurance coverage. Uh high priority for you in this 457 00:32:18,885 --> 00:32:25,265 election. Can you can call on one by one if you want it or 458 00:32:25,265 --> 00:32:31,465 we'll start with Chris? Uh yes, I do believe that health care 459 00:32:31,465 --> 00:32:37,385 is um it's so important and like I said before it's it's 460 00:32:37,385 --> 00:32:40,025 unbelievable to me that we're at this point that the 461 00:32:40,025 --> 00:32:43,705 Republicans have decided to do this, not just to Oregonians 462 00:32:43,705 --> 00:32:50,025 and to myself but to the entire country and um I sincerely hope 463 00:32:50,025 --> 00:32:54,265 that um the Supreme Court is able to see that this is not 464 00:32:54,265 --> 00:32:58,865 the way forward for our country. Thank you Chris moving 465 00:32:58,865 --> 00:33:04,945 on to uh ten. Health care is one of the top issues for me 466 00:33:04,945 --> 00:33:09,025 and I mentioned it before, but my mom was sick and part of her 467 00:33:09,025 --> 00:33:11,985 last month on this earth. before she passed away, she 468 00:33:11,985 --> 00:33:15,665 talked about you know what medical debt could do to the 469 00:33:15,665 --> 00:33:17,985 family and what kind of legacy that leaves behind and that is 470 00:33:17,985 --> 00:33:22,785 such a horrifying conversation to have um it's heartbreaking 471 00:33:22,785 --> 00:33:25,745 and so you know across the country. That's a conversation 472 00:33:25,745 --> 00:33:29,905 that continues to happen over and over and uh it's such a 473 00:33:29,905 --> 00:33:34,125 basic and necessary right so health care is well. Top issues 474 00:33:34,125 --> 00:33:36,925 for you and I've always look to candidates and measures that 475 00:33:36,925 --> 00:33:41,405 talk about it and uh that's that's who I support is who 476 00:33:41,405 --> 00:33:47,965 supports health care. Thank you. Tom Donna Roberts Yeah. um 477 00:33:47,965 --> 00:33:51,645 definitely the way that I vote depends a lot on how what 478 00:33:51,645 --> 00:33:55,005 people's policies are on health care right now and my whole 479 00:33:55,005 --> 00:33:59,645 world is kind of wrapped around health care um and I have so 480 00:33:59,645 --> 00:34:03,645 many friends who have preexisting conditions um so I 481 00:34:03,645 --> 00:34:07,565 worry about myself and my friends my age that have 482 00:34:07,565 --> 00:34:14,285 problems and it's just huge and it's it's just. A shame that 483 00:34:14,285 --> 00:34:18,925 people have to worry so much about health care right now. 484 00:34:18,925 --> 00:34:24,785 Thank you Donna and finally uh Donna Courtney. You know it 485 00:34:24,785 --> 00:34:28,705 appears that we are looking at a second wave of covet and of 486 00:34:28,705 --> 00:34:32,785 all the times for there to be a consideration of dropping the 487 00:34:32,785 --> 00:34:37,265 Aca. I can't even imagine it our health care system. I'm 488 00:34:37,265 --> 00:34:42,325 here in Lane County in Eugene. The covet has put the health 489 00:34:42,325 --> 00:34:48,405 care system in a place of chaos even before Covid-nineteen. 490 00:34:48,405 --> 00:34:52,645 It's it's very difficult to get a doctor in Eugene and the 491 00:34:52,645 --> 00:34:55,765 specialist is even more complex. try to find a 492 00:34:55,765 --> 00:35:01,285 physician in a timely fashion to possibly do a diagnosis to 493 00:35:01,285 --> 00:35:04,725 drop the Aca right now in this time of covet, where we don't 494 00:35:04,725 --> 00:35:09,365 even know, are there gonna be strokes is covet going to 495 00:35:09,365 --> 00:35:13,745 cause? Dementia heart attacks all of the things they're 496 00:35:13,745 --> 00:35:18,225 learning about covet and to drop the Aca to put that 497 00:35:18,225 --> 00:35:23,025 financial peace in chaos. It's just unthinkable to me of all 498 00:35:23,025 --> 00:35:29,025 the times to consider dropping the Aca is now um it just adds 499 00:35:29,025 --> 00:35:34,225 fear and panic to an already difficult situation in our 500 00:35:34,225 --> 00:35:39,185 pandemic. So um I'm really hopeful that we can get the 501 00:35:39,185 --> 00:35:44,045 information. Out about what how complex this is for even 502 00:35:44,045 --> 00:35:47,085 considering dropping it. 503 00:35:48,065 --> 00:35:51,845 Well, thanks uh thanks everybody again. I know it's 504 00:35:51,845 --> 00:35:55,445 not easy to talk about uh you know personal circumstance 505 00:35:55,445 --> 00:35:58,805 family circumstances things like that. but uh we have to 506 00:35:58,805 --> 00:36:02,805 put uh a face on this uh otherwise it becomes you know 507 00:36:02,805 --> 00:36:07,365 it's mostly been shuffled aside uh during this campaign uh you 508 00:36:07,365 --> 00:36:11,365 know my you know, II think two critical things we need to do 509 00:36:11,365 --> 00:36:16,005 is uh you know if the Supreme Court overturns Aca, we need to 510 00:36:16,005 --> 00:36:19,965 replace it with something even better uh and uh. I thought I 511 00:36:19,965 --> 00:36:23,085 would you know start with the first house bill and even go 512 00:36:23,085 --> 00:36:28,685 beyond that. uh so then the second thing is we need another 513 00:36:28,685 --> 00:36:32,845 covenant relief package uh and that's you know we're gonna 514 00:36:32,845 --> 00:36:36,925 fall off the edge uh of the economy here pretty soon with 515 00:36:36,925 --> 00:36:40,365 all the people who have had their rent for stalled, but 516 00:36:40,365 --> 00:36:42,205 they're gonna get a big bill and they're not gonna be able 517 00:36:42,205 --> 00:36:47,085 to pay it. uh if we don't get rental assistance, uh we're 518 00:36:47,085 --> 00:36:51,325 gonna see uh extended unemployment expire for uh 519 00:36:51,325 --> 00:36:55,205 millions of people. Uh on January 1st, if we don't extend 520 00:36:55,205 --> 00:37:00,645 it uh 108000 people who worked in small businesses in my 521 00:37:00,645 --> 00:37:05,285 district, got uh paycheck protection uh and all those 522 00:37:05,285 --> 00:37:10,245 things have expired and need to be extended. Uh in addition to 523 00:37:10,245 --> 00:37:16,325 health insurance and uh it's just a fact it's it is negative 524 00:37:16,325 --> 00:37:20,965 cuz it's stupid. Uh my opponent says no more code relief. He's 525 00:37:20,965 --> 00:37:24,245 in there with Ted Cruz, who is uh almost single-handedly 526 00:37:24,245 --> 00:37:28,965 blocking uh any additional covet relief in the Senate. Uh 527 00:37:28,965 --> 00:37:32,325 and uh and he's in there with all the rest of the party and 528 00:37:32,325 --> 00:37:34,725 saying well we're gonna repeal Aca, but don't worry. we'll 529 00:37:34,725 --> 00:37:38,565 come up with something later well, how much later day after 530 00:37:38,565 --> 00:37:42,165 week after month after year after when and what's gonna 531 00:37:42,165 --> 00:37:44,805 happen to all those people in that interim period? that's an 532 00:37:44,805 --> 00:37:48,885 issue uh and too much of this campaign and other campaigns 533 00:37:48,885 --> 00:37:52,885 around this country have not been on issues critical uh to 534 00:37:52,885 --> 00:37:55,685 the American people. Well, this is one that is critical to the 535 00:37:55,685 --> 00:38:01,025 American people. uh. That King uh if the if there's anyone who 536 00:38:01,025 --> 00:38:03,745 has a question for any of the panelists or me be happy to 537 00:38:03,745 --> 00:38:07,025 move on to that, thank you congressman and thank you again 538 00:38:07,025 --> 00:38:12,225 to our panelist today I will turn to Katrina um regarding 539 00:38:12,225 --> 00:38:17,665 any press questions. Do we have any questions from reporters 540 00:38:17,665 --> 00:38:20,145 out there. 541 00:38:23,065 --> 00:38:28,925 Hi, this is Katrina Do we have any questions from the press? 542 00:38:33,225 --> 00:38:37,245 If you have a question, please let me know and I'll go ahead 543 00:38:37,245 --> 00:38:44,525 and unmute you. it looks like we are gonna turn to um tailor 544 00:38:44,525 --> 00:38:49,085 purse from Eugene Weekly for a question. 545 00:38:52,305 --> 00:38:59,765 Hello um can you hear me? Yes okay. Um so my question is um 546 00:38:59,765 --> 00:39:03,125 is you know since the Supreme Court is now stacked you know 547 00:39:03,125 --> 00:39:06,885 against the Aca and that looks like the way that they might be 548 00:39:06,885 --> 00:39:09,925 voting. You know what are sort of these next steps for the 549 00:39:09,925 --> 00:39:12,405 everyday person who might be facing losing their health 550 00:39:12,405 --> 00:39:15,605 care. um is there any other sort of resources they can look 551 00:39:15,605 --> 00:39:22,765 to at this time. Uh Taylor I wish I could say uh the state 552 00:39:22,765 --> 00:39:27,325 will pick up the tab and keep them on uh expanded Medicaid, 553 00:39:27,325 --> 00:39:30,525 but uh the state of Oregon is already a $1000000000 in 554 00:39:30,525 --> 00:39:36,445 deficit uh for the next uh I don't think they're gonna be 555 00:39:36,445 --> 00:39:43,405 able uh to do that uh and uh you know I don't right now. 556 00:39:43,405 --> 00:39:47,805 There is no immediate fix. I mean I'm certain we could pass 557 00:39:47,805 --> 00:39:52,725 a fix. Uh you know very. Quickly in the house, but uh 558 00:39:52,725 --> 00:39:55,765 again, I mean that we have done things to improve the 559 00:39:55,765 --> 00:39:58,725 Affordable Care Act in the house in this Congress. uh 560 00:39:58,725 --> 00:40:02,645 we've passed uh five covenant relief packages, three of which 561 00:40:02,645 --> 00:40:07,605 became law uh and uh one of which is you know still being 562 00:40:07,605 --> 00:40:13,285 negotiated uh but uh but the Senate is a roadblock. So uh I 563 00:40:13,285 --> 00:40:17,605 fear that uh we would be waiting until uh potentially 564 00:40:17,605 --> 00:40:23,305 the Biden presidency uh to uh. And as a Democratic Senate to 565 00:40:23,305 --> 00:40:27,225 get a restoration or improvement of health care for 566 00:40:27,225 --> 00:40:31,065 people who totally lost it because of this, that's a long 567 00:40:31,065 --> 00:40:34,105 time to go without health insurance. Uh that's you know 568 00:40:34,105 --> 00:40:37,705 two and more than two and a half months uh and if you've 569 00:40:37,705 --> 00:40:41,465 got a preexisting condition and you need medications uh if you 570 00:40:41,465 --> 00:40:47,225 have a health emergency uh in that time period, uh you're 571 00:40:47,225 --> 00:40:53,065 gonna have to be um looking for. Um uh you know, 572 00:40:53,065 --> 00:40:57,305 essentially the asking the Peace House or the McKenzie 573 00:40:57,305 --> 00:41:02,105 laminate when we're in the corporation owns them now uh to 574 00:41:02,105 --> 00:41:06,665 uh you know you they, you know you go there for emergency care 575 00:41:06,665 --> 00:41:12,105 and then uh you'll just be getting the bills. 576 00:41:17,565 --> 00:41:21,265 Thank you congressman um it looks like we have another 577 00:41:21,265 --> 00:41:26,305 question from um Jeff Mates from OB so we'll turn to you. 578 00:41:26,305 --> 00:41:28,625 Jeff. 579 00:41:30,145 --> 00:41:35,045 Uh hi, uh thanks for uh taking my question uh congressman you 580 00:41:35,045 --> 00:41:39,845 said that uh too much of this campaign and others has not 581 00:41:39,845 --> 00:41:43,765 dealt with issues like this. What's been your fear about how 582 00:41:43,765 --> 00:41:47,285 too much of this campaign has gone, you know in other words. 583 00:41:47,285 --> 00:41:51,605 What's it focused on that you think is misplaced Well. I 584 00:41:51,605 --> 00:41:55,205 don't think we're focusing on things that are absolutely 585 00:41:55,205 --> 00:41:59,765 critical. Uh to Americans. I mean I think the Democrats uh 586 00:41:59,765 --> 00:42:04,265 lost uh. I mean the presidency in the last election because uh 587 00:42:04,265 --> 00:42:08,345 they didn't think that uh Hillary Clinton was addressing 588 00:42:08,345 --> 00:42:11,705 their real needs and understood the real needs of struggling uh 589 00:42:11,705 --> 00:42:15,625 American families. Uh and Donald Trump spoke to those 590 00:42:15,625 --> 00:42:20,025 people, but he you know in terms of health care, he wants 591 00:42:20,025 --> 00:42:23,705 to repeal the Affordable Health Care Act in terms of tax cuts. 592 00:42:23,705 --> 00:42:26,745 80% of the benefits went to people who earn over $400000 a 593 00:42:26,745 --> 00:42:32,285 year. uh you know the things that those people need. Uh the 594 00:42:32,285 --> 00:42:37,725 most uh you know are not being meaningfully discussed uh in 595 00:42:37,725 --> 00:42:42,285 this election uh how are we gonna improve or continue uh 596 00:42:42,285 --> 00:42:45,725 your health insurance? Uh how are we gonna help you during 597 00:42:45,725 --> 00:42:49,645 this time of coveted the 10000000 people are unemployed 598 00:42:49,645 --> 00:42:53,245 when their extended federal unemployment starts to expire. 599 00:42:53,245 --> 00:42:57,085 Uh you know how are we gonna help you if you're one of the 600 00:42:57,085 --> 00:43:01,805 many millions of people uh who has had rent forbearance or 601 00:43:01,805 --> 00:43:06,765 mortgage forbearance? uh when January 1st rolls around uh and 602 00:43:06,765 --> 00:43:10,685 you're not. Uh any help for the very large bill you're going to 603 00:43:10,685 --> 00:43:15,485 suddenly receive or even for those few companies uh and not 604 00:43:15,485 --> 00:43:19,565 for many. did it who stopped collecting social security tax 605 00:43:19,565 --> 00:43:24,125 from their employees. All those employees get a big bill on 606 00:43:24,125 --> 00:43:28,365 January 1st. They the tax didn't go away. Donald Trump 607 00:43:28,365 --> 00:43:33,005 just stated on it until after the election uh and they're 608 00:43:33,005 --> 00:43:36,445 gonna get a bill from the treasury uh and so those are 609 00:43:36,445 --> 00:43:39,625 gonna be. Really critical issues to people Covenant 610 00:43:39,625 --> 00:43:43,945 relief package uh you know uh including those sorts of things 611 00:43:43,945 --> 00:43:48,025 uh restoration of health care If the Supreme Court takes it 612 00:43:48,025 --> 00:43:51,865 away. uh you know those are those are things that are life 613 00:43:51,865 --> 00:43:59,145 and death or you know or house or unused uh for many Americans 614 00:43:59,145 --> 00:44:02,985 and uh they are not being discussed. uh they're not being 615 00:44:02,985 --> 00:44:06,905 discussed by my opponent and in watching the you know 616 00:44:06,905 --> 00:44:10,705 presidential issues. Uh you know, I don't see much coming 617 00:44:10,705 --> 00:44:14,705 uh out of uh you know Donald Trump on that uh and the many 618 00:44:14,705 --> 00:44:17,745 campaigns across the country. 619 00:44:22,725 --> 00:44:27,705 Okay. Next up, We have a question from Jeff Manning with 620 00:44:27,705 --> 00:44:32,825 the Oregonian. Hey, congressman you were throwing a lot of 621 00:44:32,825 --> 00:44:40,505 numbers and it's early on um I heard 270000 I heard 70000 um 622 00:44:40,505 --> 00:44:44,345 can you statewide how many people are we talking about? I 623 00:44:44,345 --> 00:44:50,585 thought it was closer to 400 270. Well, I know it's 73000 in 624 00:44:50,585 --> 00:44:56,105 my district. Uh my staff can correct me. Uh I thought it was 625 00:44:56,105 --> 00:44:59,785 uh you know just shy of 300000 statewide. If it's 400000, it's 626 00:44:59,785 --> 00:45:02,105 even worse, but that would be more than five times my 627 00:45:02,105 --> 00:45:07,445 district and my district has. The only Greg Walden's district 628 00:45:07,445 --> 00:45:11,605 has more people on expanded Medicaid in my district uh 629 00:45:11,605 --> 00:45:16,165 okay. so I'm not sure it would be that big of a factor uh can 630 00:45:16,165 --> 00:45:21,365 uh someone can uh king or some would be quickly answer that in 631 00:45:21,365 --> 00:45:26,485 fact, uh Bobby just send it to me. 372000 statewide would lose 632 00:45:26,485 --> 00:45:33,365 insurance so you are uh I was off by 100000 Okay. um let me 633 00:45:33,365 --> 00:45:38,645 ask you to look into the crystal ball if Biden wins. And 634 00:45:38,645 --> 00:45:43,525 the Supreme Court strikes it down how long realistically 635 00:45:43,525 --> 00:45:50,805 before uh something new could be passed into law. Well, 636 00:45:50,805 --> 00:45:55,525 you've you've gotta hope that uh there is some shred of a 637 00:45:55,525 --> 00:46:00,405 compassion uh in the Supreme Court. uh they could decide 638 00:46:00,405 --> 00:46:04,085 that the law was uh, however, they're gonna decide it 639 00:46:04,085 --> 00:46:09,045 unconstitutional. They could stay their decision uh until 640 00:46:09,045 --> 00:46:12,645 there's uh an opportunity for Congress to act they that would 641 00:46:12,645 --> 00:46:15,445 be totally within their discretion and I would hope 642 00:46:15,445 --> 00:46:20,485 that they would uh and I hope that they would give us uh till 643 00:46:20,485 --> 00:46:25,005 I would say. I mean I imagine we could uh do something uh 644 00:46:25,005 --> 00:46:28,525 within a month of inauguration that depends upon the Senate. 645 00:46:28,525 --> 00:46:31,645 If it's still Mitch McConnell Senate. I don't know how long 646 00:46:31,645 --> 00:46:36,205 it'll take uh but uh you know I would you know I would start 647 00:46:36,205 --> 00:46:40,365 with the original house bill and build on it. uh you know uh 648 00:46:40,365 --> 00:46:44,285 and that could be a good interim solution uh that could 649 00:46:44,285 --> 00:46:47,485 be adopted quite immediately again. The House bill was so 650 00:46:47,485 --> 00:46:51,645 far superior uh to the Senate bill uh but we couldn't 651 00:46:51,645 --> 00:46:56,305 negotiate. Cuz Bobby Kennedy died and they had to uh past uh 652 00:46:56,305 --> 00:46:59,505 cuz the filibuster, which I also goes away if the Democrats 653 00:46:59,505 --> 00:47:03,185 take over and Jeff Merkley is leading the fight on that uh 654 00:47:03,185 --> 00:47:07,425 and uh that has to go uh so we can get things done that the 655 00:47:07,425 --> 00:47:13,105 American people need and um you know without the filibuster. uh 656 00:47:13,105 --> 00:47:17,745 you know we could have uh negotiated between the rather 657 00:47:17,745 --> 00:47:21,425 poor Senate version of the Aca and a much better house version 658 00:47:21,425 --> 00:47:26,005 of the Aca uh and had. A way better program from the 659 00:47:26,005 --> 00:47:29,845 beginning way less expensive for individuals uh and taking 660 00:47:29,845 --> 00:47:32,405 away anti-trust immunity from the health insurance industry, 661 00:47:32,405 --> 00:47:35,525 which again I just passed unanimously in the house. So 662 00:47:35,525 --> 00:47:37,525 that's probably something we could even get through Mitch 663 00:47:37,525 --> 00:47:41,525 McConnell Senate if it bring it up for a vote. 664 00:47:46,805 --> 00:47:51,385 Okay, we're gonna take our last question from George Henry from 665 00:47:51,385 --> 00:47:58,265 Coast Radio George Yes. um can you hear me? Alright? Yup. We 666 00:47:58,265 --> 00:48:03,385 can hear you uh this is obviously a multi prong problem 667 00:48:03,385 --> 00:48:07,545 in health care together, not just the Affordable Care Act. 668 00:48:07,545 --> 00:48:10,265 There are those who through the or health plan. we're able to 669 00:48:10,265 --> 00:48:14,105 be helped um through this that may have been financially 670 00:48:14,105 --> 00:48:18,005 struggling those who are. In the position that can afford 671 00:48:18,005 --> 00:48:22,005 their own health care saw their health care go up three to four 672 00:48:22,005 --> 00:48:27,445 times what their payments were prior to Aca. is there a fix 673 00:48:27,445 --> 00:48:32,725 that can be done and still maintain the of the Aca or does 674 00:48:32,725 --> 00:48:36,805 this have to be reworked at some point? No absolutely. if 675 00:48:36,805 --> 00:48:40,485 the House bill had passed, which had a national 676 00:48:40,485 --> 00:48:44,805 not-for-profit government plan, they wouldn't be paying those 677 00:48:44,805 --> 00:48:47,925 extortion premiums and if the house provision to take away 678 00:48:47,925 --> 00:48:51,945 the anti-trust immunity from the colluding insurance. Had 679 00:48:51,945 --> 00:48:55,065 passed they couldn't have jacked up the premiums that 680 00:48:55,065 --> 00:48:58,265 much uh you know, state insurance commissions are 681 00:48:58,265 --> 00:49:01,785 pretty weak uh around the country, including here in 682 00:49:01,785 --> 00:49:05,705 Oregon. uh they don't they can't really exert any leverage 683 00:49:05,705 --> 00:49:10,105 on the industry. But if we took away their antitrust immunity, 684 00:49:10,105 --> 00:49:13,225 both the feds and the states could go after them for 685 00:49:13,225 --> 00:49:17,145 colluding to drive up prices. Uh that would that would change 686 00:49:17,145 --> 00:49:21,305 things very rapidly, so those two things alone would have 687 00:49:21,305 --> 00:49:25,745 dramatically. Lowered the cost. I mean, imagine it instead of a 688 00:49:25,745 --> 00:49:32,225 state by state. Uh you know a plan uh and to have a national 689 00:49:32,225 --> 00:49:36,065 not-for-profit government plan, something like Medicare but 690 00:49:36,065 --> 00:49:42,465 better uh for everybody to buy into uh I think pretty soon you 691 00:49:42,465 --> 00:49:44,945 would find that the private that there weren't many people 692 00:49:44,945 --> 00:49:47,585 buying the private insurance anymore. They'd say hey, this 693 00:49:47,585 --> 00:49:52,285 is better benefits and it's cheaper uh and that's. Uh that 694 00:49:52,285 --> 00:49:55,485 could be done quite quickly. 695 00:49:56,565 --> 00:49:59,625 They still get choice and if they wanna go to the blue 696 00:49:59,625 --> 00:50:05,625 crosses and pay more and get less coverage, I've had it. 697 00:50:05,625 --> 00:50:08,785 Thank you congressman and thank you again to everyone for 698 00:50:08,785 --> 00:50:13,265 joining our virtual round table today. Um we will cap out with 699 00:50:13,265 --> 00:50:18,385 closing remarks from Congressman DeFazio. Well, I 700 00:50:18,385 --> 00:50:21,665 think we're pretty well the king I close it out. I wanna 701 00:50:21,665 --> 00:50:27,345 thank the panelist again uh for sharing and uh really shining a 702 00:50:27,345 --> 00:50:30,465 light on what an incredibly serious issue. This is and 703 00:50:30,465 --> 00:50:37,065 should be in this election uh being glossed over by some uh. 704 00:50:37,065 --> 00:50:41,785 Including my opponent who says well repeal and I'll I'll I'll 705 00:50:41,785 --> 00:50:44,585 give you something better later well if the Republican Party 706 00:50:44,585 --> 00:50:46,825 can't figure it out. Donald Trump's administration can't 707 00:50:46,825 --> 00:50:50,665 figure it out. I'm not quite certain how mister Carlos is 708 00:50:50,665 --> 00:50:56,505 gonna do that all by himself. uh so uh you know that's about 709 00:50:56,505 --> 00:51:00,585 all. I have to say it's a critical election for many 710 00:51:00,585 --> 00:51:04,185 reasons everybody should vote. 711 00:51:06,065 --> 00:51:08,885 Thank you, Congressman de Blasio and thank you again to 712 00:51:08,885 --> 00:51:12,645 everyone else uh have a great day.