Association Opposes Legislation
Last week, U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and make significant reforms to Medicaid. Given the expectation that the bill will gain sufficient support to move to the
U.S. Senate floor for a vote, THA President and CEO Craig Becker has made the following statement regarding the proposal.
“Although we appreciate the senators’ effort to seek state-level input and provide greater flexibility, Tennessee’s hospitals oppose this proposal. As it stands, the bill includes many of the same issues that were in the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) that we found to be unacceptable and detrimental to our state.
“Specifically, the potential for disruptions to the individual insurance marketplace, long- term cuts and structural changes to Medicaid funding – with a tremendous burden placed on state budgets, maintenance of steep cuts in the ACA to Medicare providers, and elimination of the Prevention and Public Health Fund, make the proposal a nonstarter for a much-needed healthcare solution.
“As hospitals, we continue to support legislative action to stabilize the individual insurance market and believe Medicaid reform is a separate issue altogether, and should be dealt with at a later date.
“As healthcare providers, we understand the need to re-examine and make improvements to the ACA. However, the Graham-Cassidy proposal falls woefully short. We will continue to reach out to our elected officials to share our concerns and work together to create a viable healthcare solution for all Tennesseans.”
For more information contact Yolanda James at (615) 401-7422.
