Community Health Plans Weigh in on Tom Price Senate Finance Committee Hearing, Affordable Care Act Repeal Efforts

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Alliance of Community Health Plans issued the following news release:

The Alliance for Community Health Plans (ACHP) released a statement today reinforcing its position on the most constructive framework for any repeal efforts of the Affordable Care Act in order to ensure effective and uninterrupted delivery of affordable coverage to patients and the continued stability of health care markets.

"Like Dr. Price, ACHP and its members believe health reform must center first and foremost on the needs of patients. Uncertainty and instability hurt patients and the businesses trying to care for them," said Ceci Connolly, President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. "It is incumbent on Congress and the Trump administration to assure a smooth transition."

ACHP maintains that early action to adopt a near-term stabilization agenda will help avoid large scale market withdrawal and loss of coverage. The agenda should focus on three core principles: affordability, adequate funding and a stable risk pool.

The Alliance supports the following steps to ensure that individuals and families will not lose coverage or be severely disrupted as a result of any hasty ACA repeal efforts:

* Permanent repeal of the health insurance tax and greater flexibility in product design will go a long way in keeping costs down. Consumers and health plans need assurances that purchasing subsidies will continue to be available, even as policymakers debate new approaches. Without premium subsidies and cost sharing reductions, millions of Americans will be unable to afford the coverage they count on.

* Health plans and state regulatory agencies must soon make decisions on policies and rates for the individual market for 2018. Plans need clarity on the rules and funding in order to commit to next year.

* Patients and their caregivers are entitled to clear expectations and information about available options; changes can be extremely disruptive if not communicated clearly and well in advance.

"The individual insurance market has always been challenging. Now is the time to improve the market, not throw it into chaos," continued Connolly." Our nonprofit, community-based plans look forward to working with policymakers to ensure a smooth path forward."

About ACHP

The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) is a national leadership organization bringing together innovative health plans and provider groups that are among America's best at delivering affordable, high-quality coverage and care. ACHP's member health plans provide coverage and care for more than 19 million Americans across 27 states and the District of Columbia. These organizations focus on improving the health of the communities they serve and are on the leading edge of innovations in affordability and quality of care, including primary care redesign, payment reform, accountable health care delivery and use of information technology. To learn more, go to www.achp.org and follow ACHP on Twitter @_ACHP.

[Category: Insurance]

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