More than 130 mayors from cities across the U.S. signed a bipartisan letter to congressional leaders in support of the ACA.
The letter, which came from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, underscores the importance of patient protections provided by the ACA that have garnered bipartisan support. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, chair of the USCM Children, Health and Human Services Committee; USCM Vice President New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and USCM Chief of Staff Ed Somers, led a press conference call with reporters on the letter Feb. 23.
The mayors who signed the letter maintain the following provisions of the health law should be retained if it is repealed and replaced:
- Insuring children up to the age of 26;
- Eliminating lifetime and annual limits;
- Assuring eligibility for insurance coverage even with pre-existing conditions;
- Guaranteeing coverage for pregnancy and breast cancer screenings; and,
- Providing coverage for preventive services at no additional cost
The conference call comes a day after the "National Mayors' Day of Action," which involved 90 mayors across U.S. cities joining with key stakeholders, including residents, small businesses and hospital administrators to spur local action around their message.