Repeal of PPACA Would Be 'Devastating,' Sebelius Says

The vote scheduled for Wednesday in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would have "devastating" consequences for Medicare beneficiaries, if it were to pass, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday.

During a routine press briefing to tout the latest statistics on how seniors have benefited from the law, Sebelius took an unusual detour to criticize the effort to undo the legislation.

So far, health plan premiums have been reduced and seniors whose healthcare spending falls into the donut hole are now getting 50% discounts on drugs, she said. And 16.1 million people have received at least one preventive service at no cost during the first six months of the year.

"And yet despite this progress, the House of Representatives is preparing to hold another vote—their 31st  vote—on repealing the Affordable Care Act. For millions of seniors and people with disabilities who have seen the impact of these benefits in their own lives, the consequences of repeal would be devastating. To assure our country's seniors continue to get this security and protection they deserve, we need to keep moving forward," she said.

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