Valley hospital CEOs: Risks exist if ACA repealed

Feb. 09--Chief executives of two Valley hospitals say if the Affordable Care Act is repealed, a replacement plan is necessary to maintain coverage for millions of Pennsylvanians and avoid risk of financial calamity at facilities like theirs.

Should a new plan not be instituted by Congress and approved by the Trump administration, Kendra Aucker of Evangelical Community Hospital and Bob Williams of Sunbury Community Hospital urge a restoration of billions in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid payments.

Aucker said 1.1 million Pennsylvanians were covered by the health plan adopted during the Obama administration -- often referred to as Obamacare. She said the expanded coverage will cost Pennsylvania hospitals a combined $14.9 billion in payment reductions between 2018 and 2026.

Hospitals accepted the cuts to help fund the expanded coverage in 2010, she said.

"If the number of uninsured individuals increases, so will our bad debt, as people are unable to pay for their care. It could potentially have a huge impact on our financial situation," Aucker said.

"Medicaid and Medicaid HMO coverage make up 10 percent of Evangelical's payer mix," she said.

Many Evangelical patients worry that the "most vulnerable" population of any community would find it "impossible to obtain" health coverage, especially those with a pre-existing condition or others who simply can't afford a health plan.

According to Williams, patient care and staffing are at risk if the ACA isn't replaced or cuts restored.

"Sunbury hospital is one of the largest employers in the community, and more than half of a hospital's budget is devoted to supporting the salaries and benefits of caregivers who provide around-the-clock coverage," Williams said.

"Given the strong support rural Americans provided to President Trump, we believe the Trump administration would want to help rural American families like our neighbors continue to receive the health care coverage they need," he said.

Both Aucker and Williams said their respective hospitals would continue to focus on patients and serve their needs.

"We are in the business of health care, and we will continue to take care of people in the best way possible no matter what transpires," Aucker said.

Joseph Stender, media specialist with Geisinger, provided a statement from the hospital: "Right now, the effects of an ACA repeal and replace are unknown and only speculation. At Geisinger, health care reform began way before Obamacare became law. We are committed to higher quality, lower costs and population health efforts aimed at keeping our patients healthy and out of our hospitals. A change in the law will not affect these goals."

Email comments to escicchitano@dailyitem.com. Follow Scicchitano on Twitter @ericshick11.

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