By Wednesday, every major hospital entity in the U.S. expressed opposition to the American Health Care Act unveiled by GOP leaders Monday.
Here are four things to know.
Editor's note: To read 10 key points of the bill, see Becker's breakdown here. To #readthebill in full, as House Republicans are encouraging, download the 123-page document here.
1. In a March 8 letter to Congress, seven major hospital organizations said they "cannot support" the bill as it is currently written. Those organizations include America's Essential Hospitals, the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Catholic Health Association of the United States, Children's Hospital Association, the Federation of American Hospitals and the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems.
2. Although the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has not yet scored the legislation (which would provide an estimate of the number of uninsured or insured under its provisions), the associations said the AHCA in its current form will create "tremendous instability" for Americans looking to purchase affordable health plans. The associations said based on their assessment, "it is likely [the bill will] result in a substantial reduction in the number of Americans able to buy affordable health insurance or maintain coverage under the Medicaid program."
3. Additionally, the associations said the AHCA's proposed reforms to Medicaid will leave current beneficiaries without coverage and decrease hospitals' funding to treat elderly, pediatric and disabled patients.
"Maintaining deep provider reductions while dramatically reducing coverage will reduce our ability to provide essential care to those newly uninsured and those without adequate insurance," the associations said.
4. The organizations added they "look forward working with" Congress as the healthcare reform process continues.
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