The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed May 4 by the House of Representatives has deeply alarmed the disability community, particularly in four key areas.
- The bill cuts $880 billion from Medicaid over 10 years—that’s a 25 percent cut—and fundamentally changes Medicaid by imposing a per capita cap, meaning a per-person limit on benefits.
- Special education could lose out. School systems receive an estimated $4 billion a year from Medicaid to fund special education services including medical equipment and physical, speech, and behavioral therapy, according to the AASA, the School Superintendents Association.
- The AHCA greatly weakens protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
- The bill allows states to waive the requirement that health plans cover “essential benefits.” This threatens coverage for rehabilitative and habilitative services and devices along with mental, behavioral, and substance abuse therapy.
ACHIEVA, a supporter of the Consortium, recently shared a video made by The Arc of the United States showing the personal stories of those affected by the proposed changes. Watch it here, and learn more about ACHIEVA here.
The AHCA bill moves to the Senate next. Contact your Senators to tell them what you think.
Sources:
www.disabilityscoop.com/2017/05/04/house-health-alarming-advocates/23666/
www.nytimes.com/2017/05/03/us/politics/health-bill-medicaid-special-education-affordable-care-act.html
www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-2017/effects-of-repealing-health-care-bill-fd.html
www.mediamatters.org/research/2017/05/05/ahca-even-worse-youve-read/216311
www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/05/ahca-disappointment.aspx
