The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association(VHHA) has expressed concern about the American Health Care Act replacement in letters it sent to the Virginia’s representatives in Congress.
In the last week a replacement was proposed to the Affordable Care Act, if the proposal is approved, then the American Health Care Act would most drastically change the Medicaid program and how tax subsidies are doled out to help the people afford health insurance.
In the letters, the VHHA’s president and CEO, Sean T. Connaughton, applauded the fact that the proposed replacement does not change the Medicaid program to a block-granting system, but he expressed concerns about the proposed per capita cap, which would lock Virginia in at what it paid per Medicaid enrollee in the year 2016. Virginia is ranked 47th in the nation for per capita Medicaid spending. And because state did not expand the Medicaid, it would be locked in at a much lower rate than the other states.
Connaughton stated in the letters that, rather than rectifying the inequity brought about by the Supreme Court’s decision on the ACA’s original expansion provisions, the AHCA continues it by providing expansion states with the enhanced funding through at least 2020 while non-expansion states would share amongst themselves only $2 billion annually over the next five years.
He adds that, if Virginia had expanded the Medicaid under ACA, it would have received about $3 billion annually, whereas under the Congress proposed plan, Virginia would receive $87.7 million annually.
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The VHHA also takes issue with the proposal for the refundable tax credits for health insurance, which the replacement plan bases on age rather than income, as is the case under the ACA.
He continues by raising concerns over the time limitations on funding for the state-run high-risk insurance pools, that would likely cover the sickest Virginians. Connaughton concludes the letter by stating that the VHHA will continue to advocate for “enhanced patient access to essential health services.”
Mrudula Duddempudi.
