This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Cardiology societies react to AHCA bill
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
In light of the passage of the American Health Care Act by the House of Representatives, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the AMA have spoken out against the bill and urge the U.S. Senate to take a “thoughtful approach” to the nation’s health care system.
According to Mary Norine Walsh, MD, FACC, president of the ACC, the current American Health Care Act (AHCA) bill is inconsistent with the ACC’s Principles for Health Reform.
“The [ACC] opposes the AHCA in its current form and is disappointed by its passage today in the U.S. House of Representatives,” she said in a statement. “As it stands, the AHCA would allow states to bypass existing federal protections for sick and elderly people, and potentially undermine coverage for critical services for patients with heart disease.”
In a similar statement from the AMA, it advocates a hard stance on health care for all Americans, pluralism freedom of choice and universal access for patients.
“If the AHCA were to become law, millions of Americans would lose health insurance coverage, and the safety net provided by Medicaid would be severely eroded,” the statement said.
Nancy Brown, CEO of the AHA, said in a statement that the failure of the House of Representatives to stand up for American patients was “extremely disappointing.”
“The Affordable Care Act made it possible for 20 million more Americans to get quality health insurance coverage and, for the first time, provided guaranteed protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions,” Brown said. “This bill, on the other hand, seriously erodes these protections, including for patients suffering from [CVD] — our nation’s No. 1 and most costly killer.”
On behalf of the AHA, Brown said she urges the Senate to take a more “thoughtful approach” on the lives of Americans that hang in the balance and pledges to evaluate future health insurance-related proposals both thoroughly and objectively.