Democrats: Defunding PPACA Will "Wreak Havoc" on Federal Health Programs

Democratic members of the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees have sent a letter to members of the Democratic Caucus warning that defunding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would have disastrous effects on Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Reps. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Jim McDermott, MD, (D-Wash.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) wrote that stopping the healthcare reform law's implementation would disrupt provider payments and interfere with new efforts to fight Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Additionally, it would take away millions in additional funding CHIP is set to receive under the law and cause people who gained coverage under Medicaid expansion to lose their insurance, according to the letter. Defunding the PPAC A would also take away new options to keep the disabled and elderly out of institutions and end new Medicare benefits created under the law, such as free preventive care.

The letter follows an announcement from House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) earlier this week that Republican lawmakers will move forward with a spending resolution that includes a provision to defund the PPACA. Federal lawmakers must pass a spending bill before Oct. 1 to prevent a government shutdown.

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