Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Repeal Could Trigger 'Unprecedented Public Health Crisis,' Hospitals Warn
The Washington Post: Hospitals Warn Trump, Congress Of Massive Losses With Affordable Care Act Repeal
The nation’s hospital industry warned President-elect Trump and congressional leaders on Tuesday that repealing the Affordable Care Act could cost hospitals $165 billion by the middle of the next decade and trigger “an unprecedented public health crisis.” The two main trade groups for U.S. hospitals dispatched a letter to the incoming president and Capitol Hill’s top four leaders, saying that the government should help hospitals avoid massive financial losses if the law is rescinded in a way that causes a surge of uninsured patients. (Goldstein, 12/6)
The Hill: Hospitals Gear Up For Major Offensive Against ObamaCare Repeal
A powerful coalition of hospitals is previewing a fierce attack against GOP leaders if lawmakers follow through on their promise to repeal ObamaCare next year. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals on Tuesday fired off a damning new report warning that its industry stood to take a massive financial hit under the repeal of ObamaCare. (Ferris, 12/6)
Modern Healthcare: Hospitals Warn Of Job Losses, Billions In Cuts If Trump Repeals ACA
The nation's hospital lobbying groups are warning that President-elect Donald Trump's promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act could lead to massive service cuts, layoffs and hospital closures if an adequate replacement is not developed. Assuming Congress uses the most recent ACA repeal bill, H.R. 3762, the loss of coverage would have a net negative impact on hospitals of $165.8 billion from 2018 to 2026. If the ACA's Medicare reductions are maintained, hospitals will suffer additional losses of $289.5 billion from reductions in their inflation updates, according to a report prepared by healthcare economics firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates on behalf of the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals. (Dickson, 12/6)
CQ HealthBeat: Hospitals Expect Job Losses If Obamacare Is Killed, Not Replaced
Hospital groups unveiled one of their opening arguments against Congress repealing the 2010 health care law, warning that it could trigger widespread job cuts for medical professionals. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals on Tuesday called on President-elect Donald Trump and members of Congress to protect federal funding for hospitals and their patients when they consider legislation to replace or revamp much of that law (PL 111-148, PL 111-152). The two influential lobbying groups together released a consultant’s report which estimated that repeal, without any replacement efforts, would have a net negative impact of $165.8 billion from 2018 to 2026. Many patients could lose insurance coverage if the law is changed. (Young, 12/6)
Morning Consult: Hospital Groups Say ACA Repeal Could Cost Them Billions, Diminish Care
Two major hospital groups are raising concerns that repealing the Affordable Care Act could cause hospitals to lose billions of dollars if Congress doesn’t reverse cuts to hospital payments that were meant to finance the 2010 law. The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals on Tuesday released two reports they hope will persuade the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans to reverse cuts to hospital payments. (McIntire, 12/6)
