WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Steven Hadfield, a patient advocate, and Vaishu Jawahar of Protect Our Care to discuss his new Repealing the Trump Sick Tax Act, legislation to repeal changes to Medicaid cost-sharing requirements and handouts to Big Pharma in the Republicans’ reconciliation tax and spending bill.
Senator Welch’s Repealing the Trump Sick Tax Act would repeal the “sick tax” imposed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which forces Medicaid enrollees to pay an out-of-pocket fee every time they need to see a provider. The bill would also repeal provisions in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act which exclude certain drugs from the Medicare drug price negotiation program and allow pharmaceutical companies to evade accountability for high-price prescription drugs.
“Republicans’ so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ gave a sweetheart deal to Big Pharma while ripping away health care for millions of Americans. The changes in that bill were intentionally made to discourage folks from getting the health care that they need by forcing them to pay a $35 co-pay to see a doctor. We know that this financial burden on working families isn’t something that’s top of mind for the President or his ultra-rich friends. But this sick tax can often mean the difference between putting food on the table or getting lifesaving health care for millions of Americans on Medicaid. We’re already seeing Republicans express buyer’s remorse for their part in passing the President’s disastrous tax bill,” said Senator Welch. “I’m calling on my colleagues to join us in our effort to repeal President Trump’s cruel sick tax to ensure everyone—whether in a red state or blue state—can get the care they need.”
“In the wealthiest nation on earth, no one should have to choose between putting food on the table and affording the health care they need to survive. Republicans are selling out their constituents, boosting Big Drug Companies’ profits, and giving drug companies huge tax breaks. Republicans have broken the promises they made to the American people to address the cost of living and seniors and taxpayers are counting on Congress to put a stop to it,” said Vaishu Jawahar, Deputy Director of Policy Programs, Protect Our Care. “Donald Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill imposes the largest cuts to health care in the history of this country, causing more than 15 million Americans to lose their coverage. Senator Welch and Wyden’s bill will stop some of the worst provisions in its tracks because they understand that every American deserves access to affordable, quality health care.”
“I’ve spent years fighting a rare blood cancer and type 2 diabetes while working two jobs just to afford my medications. Medicare negotiation is a breakthrough that will save American patients millions of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. But if the Orphan Cures Act had been law earlier, drugs like Imbruvica would never have been negotiated, leaving patients like me stuck with unaffordable prices indefinitely. Patients fought hard to win this relief, and we cannot let Big Pharma gut that victory. It’s time to repeal this $5 billion handout and stand with patients, not Big Pharma’s profits,” said Steven Hadfield of North Carolina.
Watch a livestream of the event below:
The OBBBA is estimated to rip away health care coverage for more than 15 million Americans, including 29,000 Vermonters. More than 157,000 Vermonters rely on Medicaid for their health coverage and access to care. Medicaid provides around 41% of children in Vermont with health care, and nearly 2,000 births per year are covered by Medicaid. More than 38,000 people with a disability in Vermont are covered by Medicaid, and over 60% of nursing home residents in Vermont rely on Medicaid to pay for the care in the nursing home. Every hospital in Vermont serves Medicaid beneficiaries. The OBBBA slashes Medicaid funding by a third, which means 32,000 rural residents in Vermont could lose their coverage.
Senator Welch has championed bipartisan initiatives to protect Medicaid and lower prescription drug prices for Vermonters. Earlier this month, Senator Welch voted in strong opposition against Republicans’ disastrous ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ In May, Senator Welch denounced President Trump’s disastrous budget plan to limit ACA Premium Tax Credits, which help low- and moderate-income Vermonters access health coverage.
This Congress, Senator Welch has led the introduction of several bills to make health care more accessible and affordable for Vermonters, including the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, Strengthening Medicare and Reducing Taxpayer (SMART) Prices Act, Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, End Price Gouging for Medications Act, Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act, Protecting Pharmacies in Medicaid Act, Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act, and the Rural Hospital Support Act.
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