AMA To Congress: Don't Repeal Obamacare Without Clear Replacement

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo


By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published JANUARY 4, 2017, 10:41 AM EDT

In a Tuesday letter to congressional leaders, the American Medical Association (AMA) came out against plans floated by Republicans to quickly repeal Obamacare but delay fully replacing the law.

The AMA told congressional leaders that they must reveal their plans to replace the Affordable Care Act before repealing the legislation.

"We believe that before any action is taken through reconciliation or other means that would potentially alter coverage, policymakers should lay out for the American people, in reasonable detail, what will replace current policies. 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," James L. Madara, the CEO of the AMA wrote in the letter. House Republicans on Tuesday made two procedural moves to help carve a path for Congress to repeal Obamacare through reconciliation.

In the Tuesday letter, Madara noted that the AMA supported Obamacare and that the group now supports changes to law, which Madara described as "imperfect." He emphasized that any changes must make health care more affordable and increase coverage.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/american-medical-association-obamacare-repeal-delay

[Achilleaze]

1. Sorry AMA. Republicans don't do science, or facts, or truth, or public benefit

As they demonstrate regularly, Republicans do petty, small-minded, shrunken-soul, anti-American, pro-corporate Republican flimflam.

That's just the way it is.

[Beartracks]

10. Or caring. n/t

[OKNancy]

2. Fully repealing Obamacare will cost $350 billion - CNN Money

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/04/news/economy/obamacare-repeal-deficit/index.html

A full repeal of Obamacare would cost $350 billion over the next decade, according to a new analysis from the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. This makes its wholesale dismantling much more complicated.
Obamacare was carefully crafted in 2010 so that it didn't add to the federal deficit -- in fact, it boosted revenues slightly. The law affects the federal budget in three ways: coverage provisions, taxes and fees, and Medicare components.

-- rest at link

[Cryptoad]

3. They have had 8 yrs to come up with a replacement,,,,

and failed big time. What makes them think they can ever come up with a replacement.

[Cosmocat]

7. It is the worst thing every to these jackasses

but yet they don't have the first fucking clue what would be better.

God, this county is stupid on steroids right now.

[Cryptoad]

8. Brain Dead a better fit than stupid......nt

[Ilsa]

16. Too stupid and arrogant to look at

What has worked well in other countries.

[Cryptoad]

17. Its been too easy for them to Thump their Chest,,,

behind the shield of Obama's veto...... but now?. They know the fur is going to fly after a repeal with no replace,,,,They are trying to find a way to repeal and not replace and still be able to blame it all on the Democrats

[Ilsa]

23. Yeah, blame Democrats for not

Making it perfect the first time, when they were the ones to poison it to ruin cost controls.

[mainer]

4. Glad to see this. Esp. since AMA leans conservative

yet they understand the value of ACA.

[Dustlawyer]

14. and brainwash their patients with Fox News in their waiting rooms!

[IntraPolitico]

5. And yet the GOP will still replace it

According that human lizard the GOP will still repeal Obamacare. Do they even have a clear strategy on what they will do after?

[Eyeball_Kid]

13. Anything the Black man touches is what the GOP hates.

[Skittles]

22. they don't care

whatever the fallout, they will blame it on Obama, or maybe even Hillary - because they NEVER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING

[bucolic_frolic]

6. I always told the Repukes online

that Obamacare created more business for the health care industry
including doctors with million dollar trust funds for their kids - most all
of them Republican

but they always told me I was crazy

[hibbing]

9. They won't replace it

The invisible hand of the free market will magically and drastically lower insurance rates. Oh, and all the lower income and poor people can set up a health savings account with all that extra money they have to pay for their healthcare.

I give up.

Peace

[HopeAgain]

11. And yet they can't tell you why the ACA is so bad...

Ask any republican joe why the ACA is so bad and they literally can't tell you. They will tell you they hate it, though.

Yet this is thing number one because the Republicans see it as a humiliating loss to Obama. They took this personally and this is going to be political payback, nothing less, nothing more. Vengeance that will literally cost American lives.

As a small business owner, I may have to make the decision of either going without insurance or closing my business in search of coverage. Guess small business owners don't mean shit to the Republicans.

[Eyeball_Kid]

15. They hate it because Obama's got dark skin.

[lark]

12. Hope the AMA comes out really strongly against the Repugs plans to destroy our healthcare system.

I want to see lots of ads highlighting what will really happen, and highlighting the lies of the Repugs that they aren't deliberately creating chaos and that their plan will be better. It 100% will not be better. Why would insurance co's want to stay in the market when it's going away? They won't want to invest $ in a dying system. They absolutely won't stay is the real answer. In fact, they aren't even pretending about that. They said having coverage isn't their goal at all, is people having access to get coverage,( even if it's unaffordable or totally useless). They don't care that people will die, the dying folks won't be 1%ers, so Congress could care less, the murdering traitors. Hope ever single dr. talks to all their ACA patients and explains how much their out of pocket costs will go up once it's repealed, even with a years long delay and ask them to call their Congress person and complain. I want to see large rallies with signs highlighting that Repugs would rather working poor get sick and die so they could spend that $$ on enriching the already wealthy instead of contributing to the health of the people of this nation.

[NickB79]

18. The AMA has endorsed Trump's pick for Health and Human Services

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/11/30/1605574/-American-Medical-Association-endorses-Tom-Price-for-HHS

And in case you were wondering what his stance on the ACA is:

http://www.vox.com/2016/11/28/13772342/trump-tom-price-obamacare

It would replace the law with a plan that does more to benefit the young, healthy, and rich — and disadvantages the sick, old, and poor. Price’s plan provides significantly less help to those with preexisting conditions than other Republican proposals, particularly the replacement plan offered by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI).

The biggest cut to the poor in Price’s plan is the full repeal of the Medicaid expansion, a program that currently covers millions of low-income Americans, which Price replaces with, well, nothing.

Most Republican replacement plans are still white papers rather than actual legislative language. This means they leave out a lot of key details, like who, for example, would qualify for a high-risk pool or how big tax credits would be. But Price’s plan is detailed. It is 242 pages long and lays bare exactly how he would repeal Obamacare — a program Trump is now putting him in charge of.

[burfman]

19. Hard to believe that the AMA cares about much other than keeping their income high.

I don't know about you out there, but my rates went up 69% this year.

That follows on a number of years where premiums have shot way up.

If the ACA goes away, I suspect doctor's are worried that they might see a drop in income as a lot of people won't be able to afford care. Hard to believe that they actually care about me and you.

Funny how costs continue to rise when ACA was supposed to reduce the number's of un-insured at hospitals.

Where did the money go?

Single payer might be great if it ever happens.

Until then we should be prepared to see our insurance premiums continue to sky rocket.

It's ironic that the plan that the republicans want to get rid of, is the exact one they would have put into place if Obama did.

It was a great accomplishment to pass the ACA and get rid of the pre-existing clause.

I'm grateful for that alone, just it doesn't seem right when medical insurance is getting up there in cost with the mortgage or a significant percentage of taxes. The bronze level of Blue Cross which has a yearly deductible of $6500 for a family is up to 22,000 to 32,000 depending on where you live.


Burfman.....

[potone]

24. I used to think that the AMA represented most doctors...

and that the vast majority of doctors belonged to it. I found out a few years ago that only 30% of doctors belong to the organization, so it really doesn't speak for most doctors, although it acts like it does.

[lindysalsagal]

20. Does AMA do brain transplants?

Cause the gop is far too stoopid to write any replacement plan.

[Skittles]

21. repukes DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

THEY DON'T CARE