Hospitals Begin To Plan For Possible Repeal Of ACA
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hospitals are warning that a repeal of the Affordable Care Act would have grave consequences. A repeal was one of the most strident promises of president-elect Donald Trump's campaign and hospitals say they would need a quick replacement to stay viable.
Paula Brussard is chief strategy officer for the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania and she fears a repeal of the Act without a strategy.
"We are calling on lawmakers to be very thoughtful and cautious," Brussard said.
She said more than a million Pennsylvanians could be left without health insurance, which would be catastrophic for them, of course, but would also have a huge impact on hospitals, which agreed to accept lower payments because they'd be treating fewer uninsured people.
"If you simply repeal and don't replace that funding, hospitals will be doing more and getting paid less."
Brussard said that would necessitate cuts, which could mean fewer services, lower quality care and most certainly economic losses for the whole community.
