Henry L. Dorkin, MD, FAAP, President of the Massachusetts
Medical Society, released the following statement regarding the Better Care
Reconciliation Act.
“Although the MMS is still reviewing the Better Care
Reconciliation Act released today by members of the U.S. Senate, we do have serious
initial concerns about the effect that this legislation would have on patients,
especially those who are covered by Medicaid.
“Medicaid is an essential entitlement for the tens of
millions of Americans who depend on it for their health, and even for their
lives. This bill, just
like the House bill, will permanently end Medicaid as an entitlement program,
resulting in serious reductions in funding and access to care for children,
seniors and people with disabilities. Any cuts to Medicaid – even if
they are delayed – will leave too many low-income, disabled, or elderly
patients without the coverage on which they depend. Our health care system will
be forced to return to one in which patients must choose between needed care
and other essential expenses. The Massachusetts Medical Society stands by the
principle that all Americans should have access to the health benefits that
cover their needs.
“We cannot forget that patients who are covered by Medicaid
are a part of the overall healthcare system. Dismantling the system that keeps
them covered and able to access care will not only hurt them, it will represent
a step back for the health care system as a whole.
“Moreover, now is not the time to impose dramatic cuts to
funding for opioid treatment and recovery programs. As the opioid epidemic
grows across the country – including here in the Commonwealth, where roughly
2,000 people died of opioid-related overdoses last year – we must invest in
programs to stem the tide, not slash programs that can help save lives.
“We urge members of the Senate to reject this legislation
and to work with their colleagues in the House to collaborate on legislation
that would strengthen and sustain the Affordable Care Act, which has extended
health coverage to record numbers of Americans. We thank the members of our
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation for their unwavering support for
comprehensive coverage for our patients.”
