The Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) released the following statement in response to the vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
“The Association for Community Affiliated Plans supports Congress’ ongoing work to strengthen the nation’s health care system. The Affordable Care Act provides a solid foundation that has set the nation on a path to provide access to quality, affordable health care for those who need help the most and will address some of the long-standing inequities in health care for low-income individuals. There may be room for improvements to the Act, but we believe that a wholesale repeal would be a step backward, reversing many of the important advances that already have taken effect and eliminating long-overdue reforms that will be implemented in the years ahead.
Specifically, the Affordable Care Act will remove barriers to coverage for an estimated 16 million low-income people in the United States. For the first time, millions of low-income parents, people with disabilities, and non-disabled low-income adults who do not have dependent children will become eligible for Medicaid. This expansion will give the new beneficiaries access to more comprehensive care and services in a way that is more affordable than private insurance. In the coming years, an additional 24 million low-income individuals and families will obtain coverage through states’ newly established health insurance Exchanges. By expanding the pool of people who are insured, states will be able to create competitive marketplaces so that individuals can choose health plans that best meet their health care needs.
Beyond the coverage-related provisions, the Affordable Care Act makes long-overdue updates to the Medicaid managed care program and includes language that is an important step in recognizing the unique community focus and mission-driven nature of nonprofit safety net health plans. The Act also takes the long-overdue step of establishing an office to streamline the rules and health care services for individuals dually eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. And, through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, the Act encourages innovation among plans, providers, and patients in ways that are necessary for slowing the rate of growth in health care expenditures without compromising quality driven care for all patients.
While there may be other opportunities to improve the Affordable Care Act, we believe those listed here are some of the core provisions of the new law that should be preserved and strengthened, not dismantled. ACAP is prepared to work with all members of the House and Senate in a bipartisan way to strengthen the nation’s health care system.
ACAP represents 53 not-for-profit health plans in 26 states serving over seven million people enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other public health programs.
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For more information about ACAP, a copy of its letter on its priorities for the health care reform conference committee, and a copy of an opinion piece on why Congress should adopt the House’s larger expansion of Medicaid, written by ACAP’s Margaret Murray and published last month, visit: www.communityplans.net.