Looking Ahead - Health Care Reform

Last month, attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were defeated in the U.S. Senate, which was a BIG victory for heart and stroke patients.

You’re the Cure advocates had a huge impact, delivering the patient perspective to Senators in thousands of personal meetings, phone calls, emails and social media messages. THANK YOU!

We know the debate isn’t over yet, and The American Heart Association stands ready to work with lawmakers to ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care coverage.

In a recent letter to the Senate, we joined 13 other patient advocacy groups in offering specific issues for consideration as Congress works to strengthen the current law. While the ACA is not perfect, millions of Americans have gained health care coverage under the law. Maintaining and expanding this access to quality, affordable insurance for families across the nation is critical.

We remain committed to retaining the patient protections essential to heart and stroke patients, including the ban on excluding those with pre-existing conditions, the prohibition on annual and lifetime benefit caps, and required coverage of essential health benefits that help maintain and improve the health and wellness of millions of Americans. And we continue to urge both Congress and state governments to maintain and support important health care safety net programs, such as Medicaid and the related Medicaid expansion.

Throughout the process, we will encourage Members of Congress to consider our principles for health care reform, and to work in a bipartisan, thoughtful way to put patients first and strengthen our nation’s health care system in both the near and long-term.

Stay tuned for opportunities to act as the debate in Congress moves forward.