Nation’s Emergency Physicians: Senate’s Alternative to Affordable Care Act Is a Huge Disappointment
"Senators should vote 'no' on
Of immediate concern is the gutting of Medicaid coverage for millions of Americans who will likely be uninsured or underinsured as a result. The inevitable consequence of people losing their insurance is increases in patient loads and crowding at emergency departments, which are already seeing record numbers of patients. Similarly, when patients have insurance with astronomical deductibles, they delay regular care until a problem becomes so acute they end up in the emergency department. This new legislation will create burdens on ERs that are unsustainable and dangerous.
In addition, the loss of guaranteed coverage for emergency care – which was one of the essential health benefits of the Affordable Care Act – is basically a gift to insurers, who historically have always chosen to deny coverage when given the option. Access to emergency medical care is critical to all Americans, as is insurance coverage for that care. In a recent poll, Americans overwhelmingly — 95 percent— wanted health insurance companies to cover emergency medical carei.
We also have grave concerns that this bill does nothing to address the epidemic of opioid and drug dependence in the country, which led to a 99 percent increase in emergency department visits between 2005 and 2014.ii No members of the medical profession see the scourge of opioid addiction more than emergency physicians. The amount of money set aside by
Next week, Senators have an opportunity to offer amendments to address the numerous problems that currently exist in
i http://newsroom.acep.org/2017-03-16-Public-Overwhelmingly-Wants-Insurance-Companies-To-Cover-Emergency-Care-and-To-Be-Transparent
ii https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb224-Patient-Characteristics-Opioid-Hospital-Stays-ED-Visits-by-State.pdf
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