America’s Essential Hospitals Issues Statement on Bipartisan Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- The America's Essential Hospitals issued the following statement by President and CEO Bruce Siegel on the bipartisan health care bill:

We thank Sens. Alexander and Murray for their bipartisan leadership to shore up the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

"The end of cost-sharing reduction (CSR) subsidies poses an imminent threat to low-income, working Americans and others who depend on affordable marketplace plans. Coverage losses that result from the CSR decision also could destabilize hospitals--and put communities at risk--by increasing uncompensated care.

"We urge Congress to act quickly to restore CSR subsidies and create more certainty in the individual market. Now is not the time for a protracted debate on broad reforms--we must respond to the immediate threat to marketplace stability.

"We also must ensure final legislation maintains consumer protections and affordability requirements for the marketplace. Above all, we must preserve access to affordable coverage for all people and protect essential hospital services in communities across the country."