Top medical groups come out against GOP plan to repeal ObamaCare mandate

Source: The Hill



BY JULIA MANCHESTER - 11/15/17 08:42 AM EST

Various top medical groups voiced their opposition to the decision to the repeal of ObamaCare’s individual mandate in their tax-reform bill in a letter addressed to congressional leadership on Tuesday.

"We join together to urge Congress to maintain the individual mandate. There will be serious consequences if Congress simply repeals the mandate while leaving the insurance reforms in place: millions more will be uninsured or face higher premiums, challenging their ability to access the care they need," a prominent group of insurers, doctors and hospitals including BlueCross BlueShield Association, the American Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians wrote.

The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
The letter comes after Senate Republicans heeded President Trump's demand to include the repeal of the mandate in the tax reform bill.

While the move could drive centrists in congress away from supporting the plan, repealing the mandate gives Republicans more money to offset the cost of tax cuts, and would fulfill a the seven year Republican campaign promise to eliminate a core part of former President Obama’s signature health-care law.


Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/360441-top-medical-groups-come-out-against-gop-plan-to-repeal-obamacare-mandate

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