In the News

The public packed a town hall Monday hosted by Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, where he and a panel of experts addressed potential impacts of the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. 

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected earlier in the day the action would cause 14 million people to lose health care coverage next year and grow to 24 million by 2016.

Carbajal held the community meeting — his first on the South Coast since taking office in January — at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Fleischmann Auditorium. 

"Our current system needs improving, but the repeal and replacement the House majority has put forth would have devastating impacts for families here on the Central Coast," he said.

Carbajal was joined at the town hall by Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer Dr. Charity Dean; Dr. Charles Fenzi, of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics; Samsun Clinic's Dr. David Dodson; Jenna Tosh, executive director of Planned Parenthood Central Coast; and, Michael Harris, CenCal Health administration and government services director.

Monday's projections also give fuel to opponents who warn the measure would toss millions of voters off insurance plans. Criticism has come from Democrats, Republicans from states that benefit from Obama's law, and many corners of the health care industry.

Republican leaders have said their aim is to lower health care costs and say coverage statistics are misleading because many people covered under Obama's law have high out-of-pocket costs, making health care unaffordable.

President Donald Trump backs the GOP plan.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.