Statement on Department of Justice Decision on the Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO, Illinois, March 26 -- The American Hospital Association issued the following statement by President and CEO Rick Pollack:

"America's hospitals and health systems oppose the Department of Justice's (DOJ) misguided decision calling on the courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety.

"The position is unprecedented and unsupported by the law or the facts. Millions of Americans would lose the coverage they have relied on for years.

"We have made too much progress in coverage and access to care for patients to go backwards.

"If courts were to adopt the DOJ position, Medicaid expansion would be reversed and protections for people with chronic and pre-existing conditions would cease to exist."