The American Medical Association outlined why legislators should oppose the American Health Care Act with the MacArthur Amendment, which states the ban on pre-existint conditions will remain intact, in a letter addressed to House leaders.
Here are some of the AMA's concerns:
1. The new bill would still cause millions of Americans to lose their current health insurance coverage, according to the AMA.
2. Low income and moderate income patients would struggle to obtain good, affordable coverage if the amended bill passed.
3. The amendment doesn't guarantee adequate funding for Medicaid and other critical safety net programs.
4. It allows states to apply for a waiver from consumer protections including the age ratio of three to one, coverage for essential health benefits and the ban on health status underwriting. Patients in states that receive the waiver would stand to lose their coverage.
The letter concludes, "We continue to strongly urge Congress to engage in a bipartisan, bicameral dialogue with stakeholders to work on policies that enhance coverage, choice and affordability."
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