5 p.m. update: Austin’s lone Democratic congressman, Lloyd Doggett, told a town hall audience on Sunday that the U.S. Senate leadership’s decision to delay a vote on its bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act gives critics like himself more time to push for changes.

Doggett said the Senate Republicans’  bill is a tax bill masquerading as a health bill that benefits pharmaceutical companies only.

A town hall meeting attendee, Karen Brown, said that although she has insurance through her employer, her disabled son depends on Medicaid to pay for needed care and supplies.

Doggett told her that 15 million people could lose Medicaid coverage under the new Senate  bill.

Attendees at the town hall meeting filled out postcards to share how they believe cuts to  would affect them.

Earlier: Hundreds of people have flooded a meeting hall at a downtown Austin church on Sunday to hear how Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act could impact Medicaid, the health program that helps low-income people.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and several organizations including the Children’s Defense Fund, Indivisible Austin and the Center for Public Policy Priorities put together the event at the First United Methodist Church on Lavaca Street.

The event begins at 2 p.m. and will include several speakers, followed by a Q&A.

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Hundreds crowd downtown Austin church for Medicaid town hall – Austin American-Statesman