House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 8, 2017, as the GOP works on its long-awaited plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Tennessee hospitals warned today that the Republican health care reform plan adopted Thursday by a pair of key House committees could jeopardize health care benefits for 230,000 Tennesseans enrolled under Obamacare health exchange plans.
In a statement released today, Tennessee Hospital Association President Greg Becker said the current GOP proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, “jeopardizes the continuation of access insurance for many Tennesseans, which could further drive up the costs of uncompensated care.”
Becker said Tennessee hospitals provide nearly $2 billion in uncompensated services to uninsured persons every year. Without additional help for hospitals and with fewer people likely to buy insurance under the GOP American Health Care Act (AHCA), Becker said the health care plan moving through Congress “presents a dark forecast for the future of hospitals in Tennessee, especially our rural and safety net facilities.”
“The challenges associated with the Affordable Care Act are no secret and hospitals welcome the development of solutions to our nation’s healthcare needs,” Becker said. “While introducing some new solutions, the American Health Care Act presents more potential challenges to hospitals.”
The Tennessee Hospital Association represents 137 acute care hospitals, long-term care, psychiatric and rehabilitation members.