Health Care Providers Oppose #GOPTaxScam
America’s health care providers are speaking out against the GOP tax scam bill that will trigger billions of dollars in statutory cuts to Medicare and essential government resources next year. Take a look at their letters to Leader McConnell here:
American Society of Nephrology:
American Thoracic Society:
American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Osteopathic Association, American Psychiatric Association, American College of Physicians:
American College of Physicians:
American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, National Partnership for Women & Families, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine:
American Society of Nephrology:
“On behalf of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), I write to share ASN’s perspective concerning the Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill Act (H.R. 1) and related considerations currently before Congress. ASN leads the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN represents more than 18,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, and other health professionals, including approximately 90 percent of nephrologists in the United States.”
“Millions of Americans could lose access to health care services as a result of repealing the individual mandate, including those who rely on lifesaving access to dialysis or medications to keep their transplanted kidney healthy. Any provisions that are likely to compromise access to care by destabilizing the healthcare market should be eliminated.”
“Virtually every American with kidney failure, regardless of age, relies on Medicare’s commitment to provide lifesaving dialysis; cutting Medicare by 4% unless a waiver for PAYGO procedures is passed means these and other vulnerable patient populations could experience devastating consequences.”
Community Oncology Alliance:“Millions of Americans could lose access to health care services as a result of repealing the individual mandate, including those who rely on lifesaving access to dialysis or medications to keep their transplanted kidney healthy. Any provisions that are likely to compromise access to care by destabilizing the healthcare market should be eliminated.”
“Virtually every American with kidney failure, regardless of age, relies on Medicare’s commitment to provide lifesaving dialysis; cutting Medicare by 4% unless a waiver for PAYGO procedures is passed means these and other vulnerable patient populations could experience devastating consequences.”
“The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) is warning Congress that a new, increased sequester cut to Medicare payments will severely threaten community cancer providers and the nation’s cancer care delivery system. The Medicare sequester cut has already dealt a severe blow to community cancer care, and doubling and extending it will be catastrophic. This budget gimmick will further reduce access to cancer care for Medicare patients, particularly in rural communities, limit provider choice, and have the unintended consequence of actually increasing the federal deficit.”
American Thoracic Society:
“On behalf of the 16,000 members of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), I am writing to urge you to vote “NO” on the current tax reform legislation. The ATS has strong concerns that the Senate bill, as currently written, will increase the number of uninsured Americans, increase health insurance cost for insured Americans and result in spending cuts to the Medicare program.”
“Under current law, the significant increase in the debt expected from this legislation would trigger automatic cuts to other health research and services programs, including a $25 billion cut to Medicare spending in 2018.”
“Under current law, the significant increase in the debt expected from this legislation would trigger automatic cuts to other health research and services programs, including a $25 billion cut to Medicare spending in 2018.”
American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Osteopathic Association, American Psychiatric Association, American College of Physicians:
“Our organizations, which represent more than 560,000 physicians and medical students, strongly support policies that ensure every American has access to affordable health coverage. We are concerned that a proposed provision in the Senate tax reform legislation to repeal the individual mandate is inconsistent with our goals.”
“Our members are the nation’s frontline physicians, providing care to individuals and families in communities large and small, urban and rural. They see each day the inherent value of having health care coverage. Health care coverage is the gateway to prevention and wellness and the guardrails in the event of a major health event. Having health care coverage and a continuous relationship with a physician are the two factors that have been proven the world over to increase quality and decrease cost.”
“Our members are the nation’s frontline physicians, providing care to individuals and families in communities large and small, urban and rural. They see each day the inherent value of having health care coverage. Health care coverage is the gateway to prevention and wellness and the guardrails in the event of a major health event. Having health care coverage and a continuous relationship with a physician are the two factors that have been proven the world over to increase quality and decrease cost.”
American College of Physicians:
“Specifically, we are concerned that the bill approved by the Senate Budget Committee on a party-line vote would repeal the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement that persons purchase qualified health insurance coverage (individual mandate), which will destabilize the individual insurance market and lead to 13 million Americans losing coverage, double-digit premium increases, and insurers dropping out of the individual insurance market, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and other independent analyses. We oppose financing the underlying tax policies in this legislation through statutory budget sequestration, which would lead to deep scheduled cuts to Medicare and other vital federal health programs. These provisions will bring great harm to the health and daily lives of millions of Americans who are cared for by our physician members.”
“While Congress could later waive these statutorily required cuts, 60 votes would be needed in the Senate to do so. Past experience, when Congress allowed across-the-board sequestration from the BCA to go into effect in 2013, tells us that Congress cannot be counted on to do so.”
“While Congress could later waive these statutorily required cuts, 60 votes would be needed in the Senate to do so. Past experience, when Congress allowed across-the-board sequestration from the BCA to go into effect in 2013, tells us that Congress cannot be counted on to do so.”
American College of Nurse-Midwives, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, National Partnership for Women & Families, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine:
“On behalf of physicians, certified nurse-midwives/certified midwives, and nurse practitioners who provide care for the women of America, along with our patient partners, we stand together for women, children, and families in expressing opposition to the inclusion of certain health-related provisions in the Senate’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ... we have concerns about the unintended consequences that this legislation would have on other health programs due to budgetary mechanisms that would be triggered by the resulting increase to the federal deficit.”
“Further, we are concerned with the CBO’s cost estimate for the House-passed HR 1 indicating that, if enacted, the bill would trigger a 4%, or $25 billion cut to Medicare and additional cuts to other mandatory spending programs, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund. A cut of this magnitude would put in jeopardy access to care for seniors. We implore the Senate to ensure that these cuts don’t go into effect, and instead work with us to strengthen the Medicare program.”
“Further, we are concerned with the CBO’s cost estimate for the House-passed HR 1 indicating that, if enacted, the bill would trigger a 4%, or $25 billion cut to Medicare and additional cuts to other mandatory spending programs, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund. A cut of this magnitude would put in jeopardy access to care for seniors. We implore the Senate to ensure that these cuts don’t go into effect, and instead work with us to strengthen the Medicare program.”