The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and several other leading patient advocacy organizations have issued a joint statement opposing the American Health Care Act (AHCA). The patient advocates say the AHCA would:
- profoundly reduce health care coverage for millions of Americans
- weaken key consumer protections
- enable insurers to charge higher prices to those with pre-existing conditions and
- increase out-of-pocket costs for the sickest and oldest individuals
The organizations that joined together to issue the statement in addition NORD are: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, National MS Society, and WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.
“As Congress considers this legislation,” the statement says, “we challenge lawmakers to remember their commitment to their constituents and the American people to protect lifesaving health care for millions of Americans, including those who struggle every day with chronic and other major health conditions. We stand ready to work with Congress toward a proposal that ensures all Americans have affordable access to the care they need.” Read the entire statement.