Statement from Lisa Perry, Interim President & CEO of the Community Health Care Association of New York State, on GOP Proposal to Repeal and Replace ACA
The proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act unveiled this week by House Republicans and supported by President Trump puts the health care of millions of New Yorkers – and tens of millions of Americans – at risk.
The Community Health Care Association of New York (CHCANYS) and New York’s federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers, including those who reside in medically underserved communities, have access to high quality community-based primary and preventative care. CHCANYS is concerned that the proposed legislation puts at risk the continued viability of New York’s community-based safety net providers—including FQHCs, who are often the only primary care providers in many urban, rural and low income communities—and would negatively impact their ability to continue to provide healthcare to all New Yorkers.
Particularly dangerous are the proposed changes to Medicaid, upon which more than half of New York’s FQHC patients currently rely and which comprises more than half of the revenue of New York’s FQHCs. We must ensure the continued existence of a strong Medicaid program that provides both affordable insurance coverage to low income New Yorkers and the necessary resources for the continued operation of FQHCs in the State—services relied on by 2 million New Yorkers.
Finally, the proposed changes to the ACA will likely mean that many New Yorkers will lose the insurance coverage they currently have. Of course, FQHCs will continue to serve all New Yorkers, regardless of whether or not they have insurance. However, more uninsured patients means further financial pressure on already fiscally-stressed community health care providers.
We look forward to working with Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and the bipartisan New York Congressional delegation to ensure that community health care providers and the millions of New Yorkers we serve will not be hurt by actions taken in Washington.