I thank the Montezuma County Commissioners for creating additional public comment time at their May 8 meeting.
Dozens attended, concerned about the harm the American Health Care Act could cause right here at home. The additional comment time was especially valuable since Congressman Scott Tipton also attended.
Does Scott Tipton understand his vote will hurt people, regardless of political persuasion? More than one third of Montezuma County residents – over 9,400 people – are Medicaid clients. For many, these services are a matter of life or death. Yet Tipton has voted in favor of the AHCA, proposing to cut billions from Medicaid.
There are grave concerns about whether or not Southwest Memorial Hospital will remain open. Again: Life or death. Not to mention the alarming prospects for those with pre-existing conditions.
The Montezuma County Democrats, of which I am co-chair, are opposed to the AHCA, as are the American Medical Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Association of Retired Persons, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation for Suicide Prevention and many more.
In order to protect and care for the people of our county, we request that the Montezuma County Commissioners convene a series of meetings with local health care experts and residents so that we can more fully understand the potential local impact of the AHCA.
I will contact the commissioners to follow up, and to ask how we can help them move forward on this life-or-death request.
Liz Bohm
Mancos