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Article snippet: Louisiana’s top health official sent a scathing letter to Sen. MORE (R-La.) blasting his new bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, saying “the harm to Louisiana from this legislation far outweighs any benefit.” “The legislation you’ve introduced this past week gravely threatens health care access and coverage for our state and its people,” Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Rebekah Gee wrote. Gee, who was appointed by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), detailed several concerns she has with Cassidy’s bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. MORE (R-S.C.). Gee says thousands of Louisiana citizens would lose healthcare coverage due to the bill’s elimination of the Medicaid expansion in 2020, calling it a “detrimental step backwards” for the state. Gee also raised concerns about how the bill allows states to waive essential health benefits, which she says would “inevitably increase the cost of care for those who need it the most.” “This bill, like ones before it, uniquely and disproportionately hurts Louisiana due to our recent expansion and high burden of extreme poverty,” Gee wrote. “The cuts would threaten critical access ands care for our most vulnerable Medicaid populations including the disabled, children, and pregnant women.” Cassidy’s bill, which would replace much of ObamaCare with block grants for states, is release a “preliminary assessment” of the bill next week. Senate Democrats launched an hours-long talk-a-thon in protest of the bill on Mo... Link to the full article to read more