The Impact of the Proposed Republican Reforms to the Affordable Care Act

The Impact of the Proposed Republican Reforms to the Affordable Care Act Americans have gotten their first glimpse of proposed Republican reforms to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the news is not good for those who suffer from addiction and other vulnerable populations. The changes could make it impossible for many who currently have access to care to get treatment in the future, reversing the progress made by the ACA. The result, if the changes pass Congress, will mean a loss of life. There is some good news in the Republican proposal. Some of the most important and popular aspects of the ACA will be retained. These include: 1) Young adults up to the age of 26 will be able to stay on their parents’ healthcare plan; 2) There will be no return to lifetime caps on healthcare; 3) There will be no return to “pre-existing” conditions. These are critical healthcare reforms that protect those who have health insurance, especially those who access health insurance through their employers. The proposed changes to the healthcare system mainly come in the area of funding: who can access health insurance and how it will be paid for. In this regard, the changes are less positive, particularly for the poor and the aging. One aspect of the ACA under attack by Republicans is Medicaid expansion. Under Obama, many states were able to expand Medicaid coverage. Some of those states, like Ohio, are among those that have been hardest hit by the opioid abuse epidemic. Medicaid is currently...
Source: Cliffside Malibu - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Abuse Addiction Recovery Addiction to Pharmaceuticals Addiction Treatment and Program Resources Alcoholism Behavioral Addictions Current Events Drug Rehab Information Drug Treatment Mental Health addiction treatment center drug abuse Source Type: blogs