Kimmel to Cassidy: Make Sure Healthcare Bill Passes 'Kimmel Test'

Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel on Sunday pressed Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, to follow the “Kimmel test” he proposed on healthcare.

Reminder for Sen @BillCassidy: Kimmel test is "No family should be denied medical care, emerg or otherwise, because they can’t afford it"

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) June 25, 2017

Kimmel last month revealed during a monologue on his show that his newborn son had a heart defect. He said he could afford his son’s treatments but that he worried about those who didn’t have enough money for essential healthcare.

Cassidy soon after stated that he wanted a healthcare reform bill that would pass the “Kimmel test” and on Sunday said he was still undecided on the bill and that there were things in it that “adversely affect my state, that are peculiar to my state.”

“But if those can be addressed, I will (vote for it),” Cassidy said on CBS’ "Face the Nation." 

"If they can’t, I won’t.”

Kimmel tweeted that "no family should be denied medical care, emerg or otherwise, because they can’t afford it."

The Senate is expected to start procedural votes on the healthcare bill this Wednesday, almost one week after Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell unveiled a long-awaited proposal to replace the health-care reforms enacted by President Barack Obama.

The draft bill would cut Medicaid for the poor and disabled by some $800 billion and scale back subsidies designed to help people afford coverage. The plan also would provide an additional $50 billion over four years to stabilize insurance exchanges.

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