Below is Mike Crapo’s reply to a phone call I made to his office weeks ago, asking him not to vote to gut Medicaid and give tax breaks to the rich. (The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act he refers to is ObamaCare.) Note that he says nothing at all about Medicaid.

Consumer-driven health care was exactly why our system was badly in need of reform. And the last time we had state-based health reforms Idaho declined the PPACA’s federal monies for Medicaid and left 68,000 of us without access.

I will only address one other item in Crapo’s response:

Please join Sandpoint Natives Luke Mayville and Garrett Strizich to ‘Reclaim Idaho’ at https://www.reclaimidaho.org and supporting healthcare for working families.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle

July 24, 2017

Dear Nancy:

Thank you for contacting me about health care reform. I value the constructive thoughts, opinions, and ideas shared by all Idahoans and welcome this opportunity to respond.

Prior to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), America’s health care system was in need of reform; however, PPACA favors a one-size-fits-all, top-down approach that has led to increased premiums, smaller provider networks and stifled competition between insurers.

It is necessary to work toward implementing consumer-driven, state-based health reforms that ensure the American people have access to the health care coverage that is right for them. On May 4, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives took the first step toward comprehensive health reform by passing H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act.

The Senate is currently considering various proposals to repeal and replace PPACA. Any successful reform initiative must include provisions that stabilize the insurance market, repeal the individual and employer mandates and job-stifling PPACA taxes. With premiums rising and coverage options disappearing, the status quo of PPACA is no longer an option.

Congress remains actively engaged with governors, stakeholders and consumers to develop an effective system that works for all Americans.

America deserves a better process and a better product, and I look forward to doing my part to make this happen.

In the meantime, please feel free to continue to contact me about health care reform or on other matters of interest to you.

For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website, http://crapo.senate.gov.

MIKE CRAPO

United States senator