Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania Issues Statement on ‘Skinny’ Repeal

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 28 -- The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania issued the following statement:

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Early this morning, the U.S. Senate rejected the so-called "skinny" plan to repeal certain portions of the Affordable Care Act. The measure failed by a vote of 49-51, culminating weeks of Congressional efforts to overhaul the nation's health care landscape.

Andy Carter, president and CEO of The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), gave the following statement on the result:

"Today's vote reaffirms the difficulty of finding consensus on a plan that preserves access to health insurance coverage and health care, and we are grateful to the Senators who voted 'no.' We especially thank the members of the Pennsylvania delegation who helped protect coverage for more than 1.1 million Pennsylvanians who gained access through the marketplace and Medicaid expansion.

"Pennsylvania's hospital community will continue--day in and day out--to treat every patient who walks through our doors, regardless of their ability to pay. We will continue to research innovative methods to provide cutting-edge care. We will continue to collaborate with lawmakers and federal agencies to improve upon the Affordable Care Act and provide stability for patients and providers. This is our charge as providers, practitioners, advocates, and consumers, alike, and our work is never done."