If Republicans thought their long-planned repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was going to be easy, it just became a lot more difficult as the American Medical Association (AMA) has weighed in and warned the GOP that if they repeal Obamacare, they’d better be damn sure they have a suitable replacement.
In an open letter released Wednesday, AMA CEO and vice president James Madara warned that zealous Republicans they should not repeal the law until they can “lay out for the American people, in reasonable detail, what will replace current policies.”
The AMA letter also included this statement:
“In considering opportunities to make coverage more affordable and accessible to all Americans, it is essential that gains in the number of Americans with health insurance coverage be maintained.”
Madara added that before any repeal vote is taken, the GOP should reveal every aspect of their replacement plan so the public can decide if they want to retain the current ACA or implement a new plan:
“Patients and other stakeholders should be able to clearly compare current policy to new proposals so they can make informed decisions about whether it represents a step forward in the ongoing process of health reform.”
But with Tom Price as the nominee to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services, it seems more than a bit unlikely that Republicans will heed the AMA’s warnings. Price has repeatedly called for the repeal of Obamacare, turning Medicare into a voucher program, and severely cutting Medicaid.
Perhaps those of us who depend on Obamacare should make it clear to our elected representatives: If you take our health insurance away, we might just take yours away via the ballot box.
Featured Image Via YouTube
