The 119th Congress has an important opportunity to support physicians and patients, strengthen independent physician practice and improve healthcare delivery.
We can build a high-performing, cost effective health care system that provides access to affordable coverage for all Americans and delivers excellent patient outcomes. The President’s new Affordable Care Act (ACA) achieves this by focusing on three primary goals:
Better Quality:
Providing health insurance coverage that helps to keep people healthy and avoid costly complications or hospitalizations is essential for good healthcare. The ACA will help by expanding coverage to more than 33 million individuals, by establishing limits on annual and lifetime costs, and by eliminating onerous copayments and deductibles. The ACA also includes provisions to increase health care efficiency and transparency.
More Accessible:
Many Americans are unable to obtain affordable and comprehensive health care due to barriers such as income, geographic location and lack of availability. The ACA is making it easier for more people to acquire health coverage by creating state-based insurance exchanges and by promoting options like private plans and Medicare Advantage. In addition, the ACA will close the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage that leaves many seniors with thousands of dollars in unaffordable medication costs annually. Moreover, the ACA will improve quality by encouraging a shift toward prevention and wellness strategies. It will also include innovative benefits such as telemedicine and direct patient e-connectivity with their chosen caregivers. These tools will allow consumers and providers to communicate with each other more effectively and provide a more personalized service.