Health Care Professionals & Patients Call Out “Shutdown Sheehy” For Disastrous Health Care Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 14, 2023
CONTACT
rehm@mtdems.org
Montanans in Red Lodge and Anaconda stood in support of their local rural hospitals and called out Sheehy for his plan to shutter them
Helena, MT – On Wednesday, health care professionals, patients, and advocates in Red Lodge and Anaconda stood in support of their local rural hospitals, and called out Tim Sheehy for his disastrous call for the “pure privatization” of health care.
Last week, leaked audio revealed that Sheehy called for the “pure privatization” of the U.S. health care system. This would be devastating for health care in Montana, and would shutter 49 rural hospitals, dismantle Medicare, and overturn the Affordable Care Act.
In Red Lodge, Montanans gathered at Beartooth Billings Clinic to sound the alarm:
Retired physician David Lehnherr, local advocate Patti Keebler, and remarks shared on behalf of Clare, a hospice patient, made it clear that Sheehy’s attacks on rural hospitals would be catastrophic for local communities.
“Have no doubt: There are people in Carbon County who are alive today because we have a hospital in Red Lodge,” said Dr. David Lehnherr. “It’s hard to believe, but there are still some politicians talking about attacking the Affordable Care Act and the many benefits it has brought to rural communities like Red Lodge. Some of those politicians talk about ‘privatizing’ health care in America. Tim Sheehy is one of those politicians. I honestly don’t know how he can sleep at night. He’s one of those politicians who lives in a city and who hasn’t bothered to research how important rural hospitals are to the communities they serve.”
In Anaconda, Montanans shared their stories at the Community Hospital of Anaconda:
Community Hospital of Anaconda board member and principal at Anaconda High School Erik Swanson, health care professional of 40 years Audrey Aspholm, and former legislator from this Anaconda house district Kathy Swanson emphasized the importance of rural hospitals.
“As we all know, the Community Hospital of Anaconda provides emergency critical care to the community, and it is where many of our neighbors go for their health care needs,” said Erik Swanson. “We shouldn’t have to lose access to our community’s doctors and health care professionals because Sheehy’s plan closed our local hospitals.”
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