Hospital group calls AHCA “devastating”, warns of impact

(Harrisburg) — The American Health Care Act has made it through the US House, and powerful interest groups are on the attack.

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania is not happy that the GOP-led House passed the AHCA, calling it devastating.

The bill would lead to an estimated 24 million more uninsured people in the US, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

HAP, which represents health systems in Pennsylvania, says letting people fall off health insurance is unacceptable.

Jolene Calla, a vice president with HAP, says more uninsured people could hurt hospitals, which would impact many.

“Eliminating or cutting back on services, minimizing staffing, or even in worst case scenarios, they may not be able to remain open long-term,” she says. “They don’t have the ability to improve infrastructure, to maximize staffing, to upgrade technology, to offer the patient services and the level of care and things that we’ve been seeing when we’ve had the funding going to hospitals.”

Calla says the US Senate should remake the bill so it maintains coverage for all who already enrolled in health insurance.

Three representatives from the midstate voted against the AHCA: Republicans Charlie Dent and Ryan Costello, and Democrat Matt Cartwright.