WASHINGTON---The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) issued the following statement responding to the 2012 election results:
"We congratulate President Barack Obama on his re-election and welcome the newly elected members of the 113th Congress. We thank President Obama and our Congressional allies for their steadfast commitment to improving the health of minority and low-income communities and women. And we look forward to working together to further improve the health and well-being of our nation's most vulnerable," said Emily Spitzer, NHeLP's executive director.
"Yesterday's election results demonstrate the country is ready to move forward to tackle our nation's health needs. We need to fully implement the Affordable Care Act, protect access to comprehensive reproductive health care, and work together to maintain the nation's critical safety net programs, including Medicaid," said Spitzer.
Many of the Obama administration's policies have prioritized the health and health care needs of vulnerable communities, including those who are low-income, persons with disabilities, communities of color and women. President Obama's signature reform - the Affordable Care Act (ACA) - has been especially critical to tackling the nation's uninsured crisis and making the necessary investments in public health and disparities elimination. In addition, the ACA's Medicaid expansion has the potential to offer coverage to up to 17 million individuals if all states implement it.
"The next four years will be pivotal to moving our nation's health in the right direction to ensure that all vulnerable populations, including immigrant communities, reap the ACA's benefits," said Mara Youdelman, managing attorney NHeLP D.C. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Obama administration and Congressional allies as we work to ensure that the communities most in need realize the promises of health reform."
NHeLP will provide more in-depth analysis of the 2012 elections and impact on health policies in the coming days.
