We all breathed a sigh of relief last Friday when the U.S. House of Representatives did not move forward with the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which was the GOP-drafted legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka “Obamacare”). We are grateful to our state’s congressional delegation for taking the time to understand the issues and the potential impacts the legislation could have had on our state’s communities. We believe the House made the right move by not moving forward.
Our health care system is not perfect, and neither is the ACA. Many have struggled with rising premiums for their health insurance coverage, and some continue to lack coverage altogether. There is work to be done to continue to improve the system and lower costs. However, the AHCA would have limited access to health insurance coverage, especially for low-income residents who can least afford it.
It’s hard to discuss the ACA without being drawn into the politics of the issue, but WSHA has remained policy-focused and data-driven throughout the debate. We aren’t tied to the ACA, nor are we opposed to replacing it, as long as our communities are able to keep covered. Any replacement should maintain the coverage levels we have through the ACA, or improve upon them. We look forward to continue working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to improve our health care delivery system.
Having health insurance coverage is one of the most fundamental building blocks to a healthy community. Residents with coverage are more likely to get preventive care, keep healthy and stay out of the emergency room. Not only does this help residents live healthier lives, but it makes care cheaper for everyone.
Sincerely,
Cassie Sauer
WSHA President & CEO
cassies@wsha.org
