Senators Grassley and Ernst return to Iowa this weekend and face scathing local headlines and editorials calling out the dangerous Republican Senate health care bill that would strip 22 million Americans’ access to health care and gut Medicaid. The latest CBO report confirms spending cuts would grow even deeper in the second decade increasing by 35% by 2036, causing even more unnecessary anguish for Iowans.

Newspapers across the state are making it clear that Senators Grassley and Ernst should not support the GOP’s cruel repeal bill.

Quad City Times: Anxieties come out at health care session

“A mostly cordial meeting for Davenport members of AARP revealed deep anxieties about the future of Medicaid and Medicare…

“Both the Senate and House plans also reduce tax credits, used to help some people pay for insurance. That adds up to the large cost increases for 55- to 64-year-olds under the new scenarios. In general, the plans will require older Iowans to pay more for less coverage, Carroll said.

“Alicia York and her mother, Polly, of Davenport, voiced concerns. Alicia York is a certified nursing assistant who gets coverage through the Affordable Care Act, also called Obamacare.

‘Why are they doing this?’ she asked, saying they should, instead, fix problems that exist in the Affordable Care Act.

“Polly York has been in low-wage jobs all her life, she said, and can't pay higher costs for insurance.”

Newton Daily News: EDITORIAL: Health Care: Let’s not go backwards

“We are told our pre-existing conditions will be covered under the Trump Care Senate bill without limits or caps. Just like under the ACA/Obama Care.

“Sounds good. Until we look at the fine print. States will be allowed to seek a waiver from coverage of various parts of the Essential Health Benefits currently required under the ACA/Obama Care. Given that Iowa has terrible budget problems, why wouldn’t Iowa seek waivers of EHB’s?”

The Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa’s rural hospitals balance tight budgets with patient needs

“In Iowa, the average age of rural residents is eight years older than urban residents — 43.6 years old compared with 35.3, according to the most recent U.S. Census numbers.

“Nearly 16 percent of those living in Van Buren County live in poverty, for example, higher than the state average of 12 percent. Eight percent lack health insurance compared with about 7 percent statewide.

“That means these hospitals see far higher portions of patients on Medicaid or Medicare — at Van Buren County Hospital, more than 70 percent of patients are on government-sponsored health plans. This makes these hospitals more susceptible to bigger financial struggles when changes are made to those government programs such as sequestration — a 2 percent across-the-board cut to Medicare providers — and potential cuts to the Medicaid program outlined in the Republican-backed health care plan.”