Update on the AHCA and Next Steps

What Happened?

After months of modifying the bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare), the House narrowly passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) with 217-213 votes. It was pushed to the House floor for votes on Thursday, May 4, before the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was able to score its impact on the economy and the American people. The CBO is scheduled to have a detailed score for this version of the healthcare bill this week.

What This Means?

Now that the AHCA passed in the House, it has moved to the Senate for further review and votes. However, it remains to be seen if Senate leaders will even consider the bill. The Senate has been quietly working on their own version of a healthcare bill, but are determined to wait for the CBO report before taking any action.

What is in the AHCA?

The GOP vowed to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, dismantle Obamacare taxes, eliminate the individual/employer mandate, strengthen Medicaid, and provide tax credits for low and middle-income families.

The Good—For those that did not want to be forced to have health coverage, the requirement (individual mandate) and tax penalty are removed. Additionally, Representative Fred Upton introduced an amendment to the bill that was intended to give people the freedom to choose their healthcare at a lower costs. In the initial assessment of the AHCA, the CBO found that there will be a decrease in insurance premiums over the long term. Young people are allowed to stay on their parents insurance until the age of 26.

The Bad—This new bill detrimentally impacts low income, older and sick Americans. The AHCA takes away coverage for 24 million people currently covered under the ACA. Industry fees and income tax on wealthy Americans is repealed, which contributed to the funding of the ACA. The bill gives states the authority to decide whether essential benefits, including mental health, are covered. It allows for insurers to charge more to older people and individuals with pre-existing conditions, like hydrocephalus. The AHCA also dramatically cuts funding for Medicaid.

Read more about the bill here.

How the AHCA Could Impact You?

If passed into law, the AHCA will affect millions of Americans. It will leave millions without insurance or increase the cost to many of those who remain insured. For those living with hydrocephalus, the AHCA will increase funding for high-risk pools to cover people with pre-existing conditions. Historically, these pools have meant higher costs with less coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions as well as long wait times to receive coverage. The AHCA will cut funding to Medicaid which, apart from impacting recipients of the program, will also cut school services for special education children whose school districts currently receive Medicaid money to partially cover these services.

How You Can Help?

It is important now more than ever to get involved and take action. Below are ways you can get involved:

1. CONTACT YOUR SENATOR TODAY and urge them to oppose the AHCA. If passed into law, the AHCA would be devastating for individuals with hydrocephalus and millions of Americans. Find your Senator here or call (202) 224-3121. Let them know how important the ACA is to you and how it saved lives. 
   
   
2. TAG YOUR SENATOR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Twitter has become a popular channel for elected officials. HA is running a Twitter campaign this week to bring attention to this matter. Take a photo of yourself holding a sign that says Hydrocephalus. Post with the below text (or something similar). Don't forget to tag us so we can like and retweet! 

I have #hydrocephalus. I have had X brain surgeries. #IAmAPreexistingCondition @SenatorX, vote NO on #AHCA. @HydroAssoc

I have #hydrocephalus. Brain surgery is my only treatment option. #IAmAPreexistingCondition @SenatorX, vote NO on #AHCA. @HydroAssoc 

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