APA Calls for Rejection of Latest Republican Effort to Repeal ACA

APA is urging members to contact their U.S. senators and voice their opposition to theGraham-Cassidy bill—the latest effort by Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The bill, which was drafted by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and unveiled last week, appears to be gaining traction in the Senate. “This legislation … will lead to millions of Americans losing their health care coverage,” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., said Tuesday in apress release. “We are particularly concerned that this bill would make drastic cuts to the Medicaid program and roll back expansion, which has allowed 1.3 million Americans with serious mental illness and 2.8 million Americans with substance use disorder, to gain coverage for the first time. This bill harms our must vulnerable patients.”Among its many proposals, the bill would allow states to change what qualifies as an essential health benefit, eliminating guaranteed coverage of substance use disorders and mental health treatment services. It would also stop the Affordable Care Act ’s Medicaid expansion and cost-sharing subsidies and instead put that money into block grants that states could use to design their own health care systems.“The APA is ready to work with members of both parties to craft a bipartisan solution that stabilizes the health insurance market and ensures Americans have access to quality, affordable health care,” Levin said.Last week APA...
Source: Psychiatr News - Category: Psychiatry Tags: ACA essential health benefits Graham-Cassidy health care reform repeal and replace Saul Levin senators Source Type: research