8th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

THEN: After years of pursuing health care reform, President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010. The ACA cut the uninsured rate in half by expanding Medicaid coverage to low-income individuals and by providing Cost Sharing Reductions to those in the individual health insurance market.  It provided consumer protections by eliminating pre-existing conditions as a barrier to obtaining health insurance and required insurers to cover preventative care services. Doctors for America was one of the leading physician organizations supporting the passage of this monumental health care reform. On the morning of October 5th 2009, DFA doctors, myself included, stood together in the Rose Garden representing the voices of our patients in our home states who desperately needed access to high quality, affordable health care.  Below is a picture of our DFA leaders in 2010.

NOW: The election of 2010 brought in new Congressional leadership and in 2016 a new Administration. Our work towards health reform did not end with the passage of the ACA.  We now have to defend our progress. Thanks to YOU we successfully pushed back repeal efforts and have continued to fight against the undermining of the ACA through Medicaid work requirements and the elimination of vital consumer protections. DFA will continue to defend the ACA state by state and federally. Below is a photo from a Capitol Hill press conference yesterday where DFA member Dr. Sanjeev Sriram spoke on the 8th anniversary of the ACA.

ACA Defense:  Contact your U.S. Representative
  • CALL: Capitol switchboard (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to your elected Congressperson.
  • MESSAGE: “Happy 8th ACA Anniversary – the ACA is here to stay!”

GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION

In addition to our on-going defense of the the ACA, DFA is committed to addressing the issue of gun violence prevention. Join our expert call with Doctors Jeffrey Swanson and Amy Barnhorst along with DFA Senior Advisor Harold Pollack next Monday March 26th at 9pm EST. These experts will discuss the epidemiology of mental health and gun violence, and dilemmas facing front-line medical and mental health providers seeking to prevent suicides and homicides. Panelists will also discuss prominent proposals such as gun violence restraining orders. Click here to RSVP.

2018 NATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Finally, I would like to cordially invite you to join DFA’s continued work in defending the ACA, designing the next generation of health care reform, gun violence prevention and our other initiatives by attending our 2018 National Leadership Conference June 1 – 3 at Johns Hopkins University. Click the button below to register.

In Solidarity,
Scott Poppen, MD MPA
Board Chair

Affordable Care Act