Bill Cassidy Says Jimmy Kimmel 'Doesn't Understand' Health Care. Experts Say Otherwise.

Marina Fang
Updated

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Thursday continued feuding with late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel on Senate Republicans’ latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, complaining that Kimmel doesn’t understand the bill. Experts said Kimmel’s critique of the legislation was fairly accurate.

“Yeah, so Jimmy doesn’t understand,” Cassidy, also a physician, said on “Fox and Friends,” after Kimmel excoriated him on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” for the second night in a row. “And not because he’s a talk-show host, [but] because we’ve never spoken. He’s only heard from those on the left who are doing their best to preserve Obamacare. He’s not heard from me.”

In a monologue on Tuesday that went viral, Kimmel went into a detailed explanation of Cassidy’s bill, which Senate Republicans aim to rush through a vote, possibly next week. He did not mince words, saying Cassidy “lied to my face,” with a promise that people with preexisting conditions would not be denied coverage or face higher premiums.

Cassidy appeared on Kimmel’s show in May after the comedian’s infant son underwent surgery for a preexisting heart condition, assuring Kimmel that any Senate health care legislation would pass what he deemed “the Jimmy Kimmel test.”

But Cassidy’s bill likely doesn’t pass that test, according to most experts.

Instead, by granting states broad authority on health care, the bill could lead to insurers charging higher rates to people, based on their medical status. States would be able to bypass key provisions of the Affordable Care Act, including the requirement that protects people with preexisting conditions.

Several health care experts confirmed that Kimmel’s explanation of the bill was correct, while Cassidy continues to make misleading claims to defend his legislation.

Also on HuffPost

Demonstrators are arrested by U.S. Capitol police while protesting against Republican health care reform legislation outside the offices of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Demonstrators are arrested by U.S. Capitol police while protesting against Republican health care reform legislation outside the offices of Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Samantha Coronado of Tucson, Arizona, and fellow demonstrators are arrested after protesting outside the offices of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).
Samantha Coronado of Tucson, Arizona, and fellow demonstrators are arrested after protesting outside the offices of Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).
 Demonstrators are lead away in handcuffs.
 Demonstrators are lead away in handcuffs.
Capitol Police officers arrest a protester.
Capitol Police officers arrest a protester.
A demonstrator is carried away.
A demonstrator is carried away.
A healthcare activist holds up a sign while she and others occupy the office of Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to protest the Republican health care bill at the U.S. Capitol on July 10, 2017.
A healthcare activist holds up a sign while she and others occupy the office of Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) to protest the Republican health care bill at the U.S. Capitol on July 10, 2017.
Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Health care activists protest to stop the Republican health care bill at Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.
Health care activists are detained after the protest.
Health care activists are detained after the protest.
A health care activist holds up a sign.
A health care activist holds up a sign.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.