Mass Medical Society opposes ACA replacement
Dr. James Gessner, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
The Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) has formally opposed the American Health Care Act, the bill put forth by House Republicans to replace the Affordable Care Act, according to a March 10 statement from MMS President Dr. James S. Gessner.
“The Massachusetts Medical Society strongly opposed the American Health Care Act. Although we do not know exactly how many thousands of people would be impacted, it is clear that by placing a cap on federal Medicaid funding, the bill would force many low-income people in the commonwealth to lose their health coverage,” Gessner said in the statement.
Additionally, even more beneficiaries would lose Medicaid permanently under a provision that prevents patients from re-enrolling after a break in eligibility, Gessner said.
“People with inconsistent incomes, for example seasonal workers, would lose the coverage they need in financially challenging times,” Gessner said.
The House Bill, which faces opposition from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, freezes Medicaid expansion in 2020, and eliminates the penalty people pay for not buying coverage. Instead, it offers tax incentives in order to encourage people to buy plans. Policy expert have estimated that 14 million people in the U.S. could lose coverage under the proposal.
In addition to coverage changes, Gessner said the MMS is also concerned about the abolishment of the Prevention and Public Health Fund under the bill. The fund includes $18 million in funding for public health initiatives in Massachusetts.
“Members of the MMS know what happens when our patients do not benefit from comprehensive coverage and preventative efforts: People become sicker, our communities suffer, and overall healthcare costs rise as early diagnosis and treatment are replaced by acute care response,” Gessner wrote.
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