Dermatological associations respond to Supreme Court decision on Affordable Care Act

The American Academy of Dermatology Association and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association have issued responses following today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act.

“The [American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA)] has … remained committed to improving the law so that it does not undermine patients’ access to care and treatment or physicians’ ability to treat their patients,” Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, FAAD, president of the AADA, said in a press release. “While the Affordable Care Act is not a perfect law, today the Supreme Court found that citizens in state and federal exchanges under the [Affordable Care Act (ACA)] remain eligible to receive federal subsidies to purchase coverage.”

Mark G. Lebwohl

The court ruled 6 to 3 in King v. Burwell, stipulating that the Internal Revenue Service may extend tax credits and premium subsidies for health insurance to consumers in states that do not set up their own health care exchanges under the ACA.

“While today’s ruling does not change the law, much work remains to be done to improve the ACA and to provide access to care for all Americans,” Lebwohl said in the release. “The AADA encourages the White House, as well as Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together and continue to improve access to care … [including] addressing narrowing physician networks and the rising cost of medications and the treatments for patients.”

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) issued this statement: “ASDSA, as a member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, affirms that it will continue to work with Congress to make improvements to the [ACA], including the repeal of the [Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)] and the medical device tax, and work with the agencies to ensure the current aspects of the law do not result in barriers to access to specialty care.”

The AADA called the IPAB a “major flaw” not addressed by the court’s decision. “The IPAB puts important health care payment and policy decisions in the hands of an independent body that lacks accountability,” Lebwohl said in the release. “The academy calls on Congress to urgently pass permanent IPAB repeal legislation.”

Reference: www.aad.org; www.asds.net