Washington, D.C. – Following Senate passage of budget reconciliation, AHIP released the following statement:
“The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the current version of the budget bill would result in 11.8 million people losing health insurance coverage over the next decade.
“The combined impact of the policies in the bill will destabilize state Medicaid programs and undermine countless local health care systems. Due to new red tape and barriers to enrollment and re-enrollment, people losing eligibility for Medicaid will find an individual market with less choice and higher premiums. The potential expiration of the current health care tax credits later this year would compound the disruption.
“Taken together, these policies could result in the biggest rollback in health care coverage in the country’s history. That would mean millions of American families lose affordable access to primary care and pharmacies. The emergency room – the costliest and least coordinated site of care – would become the front door of the health care system for millions of people. The bulk of these costs would simply shift to uncompensated care payments and to those who are insured.
“It’s not too late for Congress to change course and keep coverage and care stable and affordable for low-income people and working families.”