Rochester, NY (January 4, 2017) – The Rochester Regional Healthcare Advocates is opposed to the repeal of the Affordable Care Act without an immediate and meaningful replacement because it could be financially damaging to hospitals in the Rochester area and reduce access to coverage for thousands of New Yorkers. Congress is expected to start to address the issue today.
“We need to protect upstate New York hospitals from potentially damaging cuts,” said Travis Heider, President and CEO of Rochester Regional Healthcare Advocates. “Many hospitals in New York are already financially vulnerable. New York’s average hospital operating margin of 1.3 percent is the second worst in the nation, far below the national average of 6.4 percent. Repealing the Affordable Care Act without an immediate replacement would seriously harm many hospitals, including hospitals in the Greater Rochester area.”
In addition to providing needed care 24/7/365, Rochester hospitals are a major force in the local economy. Hospitals in the Greater Rochester Region deliver care to 6.4 million patients, generate over $7.2 billion dollars in economic activity, produce over $807 million in tax dollars for local economies, provide $469 million in care for the underserved and are responsible for more than 53,000 jobs.
According to the Healthcare Association of New York State, repeal of ACA would cost Greater Rochester Hospitals up to $1.4 billion over the next ten years.
“Hospitals and health systems across New York State are making strides in transforming care delivery to reduce costs while improving care quality. This transformation requires substantial investment, long-term commitment, reconfiguration of care delivery, and accepting risk and responsibility for healthcare in entire communities,” said Amy Pollard, President and CEO of UR Medicine/Noyes Health and Chair of the Rochester Regional Healthcare Advocates. “A repeal of the ACA without replacement would pull the rug out from under all of us.”
A repeal of ACA in whole or in part should only be pursued if replacement is simultaneous and meaningful:
- for patients in the form of affordable, robust, and continuous health coverage at least as expansive as under ACA
- for the State of New York and its localities that jointly support Medicaid
- for hospitals and health systems that need predictable and reasonable public and private coverage policies and payments to continue the transformation of the healthcare system, safeguarding access to care for all New Yorkers
“The Rochester Regional Healthcare Advocates stands with the Greater New York Hospital Association and Healthcare Association of New York and urges Washington to avoid actions that could compromise New York hospitals,” said Heider.
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, all three organizations released the following joint statement:
“The need to protect and strengthen New York hospitals has never been greater. Scores of hospitals across the state are financially vulnerable. Moreover, New York’s average hospital operating margin of 1.3 percent is the second worst in the nation, far below the national average of 6.4 percent. Repealing the Affordable Care Act without an immediate and meaningful replacement will worsen this situation. It will seriously harm upstate New York hospitals and the patients they serve. We urge Washington to avoid actions that could compromise access to care for all New Yorkers.”
For more information about RRHA’s position on this matter, contact Mary Beth Walker at 585.273.8186 or mwalker@seagatealliance.com.