NASN Healthcare Legislation Update

The Senate is poised to try for a third time to repeal and replace the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA).  

Graham-Cassidy would scale back the federal role in the health care system and again rely on a system of block grants to the states.  As with the other iterations of repeal and replace that rely on block grants or per capita caps, this will be devastating to one percent of Medicaid that flows to schools. 

Schools are part of the safety net for children and Medicaid plays a significant role, particularly in the funding of needed medical services for children in special education under IDEA through their IEP, but also for those students without IEPs who are eligible for Medicaid. These changes will impact the ability of students with disabilities and students in poverty to receive many critical health services in schools that enable them to learn. This includes services provided by the school nurse for example vision and hearing screenings and management for students with diabetes and asthma.

Please contact Senator Collins at 202-224-2523 or email susan@collins.senate.gov to voice your opinion on the Graham-Cassidy bill.