BELLEFONTE — The new Republican health care bill brought a group of sign-holding Centre County residents to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s front door on East Bishop Street in Bellefonte for a 24-hour vigil that started at noon June 28. But, attendees weren’t there to protest.
Armed with signs, food and their own personal stories, they wanted to thank Casey for his disapproval of the bill during their daylong vigil.
The event’s organizer, Jared Deloof, said he has Type 1 diabetes and his insulin costs will skyrocket by thousands of dollars if the bill is passed as it stands.
“We’re out here to thank Sen. Casey and to tell Sen. Pat Toomey that we’re watching,” Deloof said.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Senate’s newest health care proposal, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, would leave 22 million more people uninsured by 2026 than the current system would if left in place. According to the CBO’s estimate, the government would save $321 million if the Senate’s bill is passed.
Sarah Pearson would rather that didn’t happen.
“I think it’ll be a disaster to our area,” Pearson said. “There’s 500,000 people on Medicaid in Pennsylvania’s 5th District.” The 5th District covers most of the northwestern portion of the state.
“It’s not good, because we’re battling an opioid crisis now, too,” Pearson said.
Across the country, Medicaid provides coverage for substance abuse treatments for close to 1.3 million Americans, according to research by Harvard Medical School[Office1] . In Pennsylvania, the number is slightly above 80,000. According to the same study, 3.2 of every 100 people in Pennsylvania die of a drug overdose. Cutting funding for drug abuse treatment could raise those numbers more, which have already ballooned by 137 percent nationwide since 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Deloof said Casey’s staff came out to thank them on the day of the vigil and gave them enough food to stay until the next day. He also said he would keep fighting to make sure the people who need coverage can get it.
