The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals Dec. 6 released a report that details the impact a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would have on hospitals and health systems and the patients and communities they care for.
The report finds that, under the most recent repeal-without-replacement bill, H.R. 3762, hospitals across the nation would suffer losses amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars.
Rick Pollack, AHA present and CEO, and Chip Kahn, FAH president and CEO, observed that, “Losses of this magnitude cannot be sustained and will adversely impact patients’ access to care, decimate hospitals and health systems’ ability to provide services, weaken local economies that hospitals help sustain and grow, and result in massive job losses. As you know, hospitals are often the largest employer in many communities, and more than half of a hospital’s budget is devoted to supporting the salaries and benefits of caregivers who provide 24/7 coverage, which cannot be replaced.”
In letters sent Dec. 6 to President-elect Trump and congressional leaders, Pollack and Kahn outlined the findings of the report and their concerns about the potential impact on patients and communities. They also expressed their commitment to working with the Trump administration and Congress as they begin reconsideration of the ACA and reiterated the importance of properly funding hospital services.
The report, which was commissioned by the AHA and FAH, was prepared by the health care economics firm Dobson | DaVanzo. A copy of the executive summary and full study can be found by visiting http://www.aha.org.