See Also
Overview
As the frontline of our health care system, family physicians see the importance of health coverage on a daily basis. They also see the value of ensuring each patient is able to obtain health care coverage regardless of their gender, health history, or socioeconomic status.
Our health care system is not perfect, and there are clearly areas of our insurance and health care system that require additional reforms. That is why AAFP is committed to engaging in a dialogue to identify policies that strengthen our health care system and make health care more affordable for individuals and families. Some areas of the health care overhaul were clearly beneficial, and we believe that many of them should be preserved.
As the national dialogue shifts to coverage for all, the AAFP, in coalition with five other physician organizations representing more 560,000 family physicians, support the following:
Maintaining Coverage
Currently insured individuals should not lose their coverage as a result of any action or inaction by policymakers.
Patient-Centered Insurance Reforms
Preserve current coverage of essential benefits, as well as consumer and benefit protections.
System Reforms
The AAFP welcomes and encourages improvements upon current law to ensure a health care system optimized for patients and their physicians
Our Process Ahead
Changes to our healthcare system come with very high stakes – impacting tens of millions of our patients. Avoiding unintended adverse consequences when making legislative and regulatory changes can require a delicate balance. The AAFP therefore is hopeful that proposals to modify or improve on current law will be released in detail (including legislative language and CBO scores) before Congress votes.This can provide a valuable opportunity for analysis, review and input by our organizations and other stakeholders, by members of Congress, and by independent and nonpartisan analysts.Our intention is to evaluate such proposals based on whether they preserve and improve on the essential coverage, benefits and consumer protections described above, and on access to care for both insured and uninsured individuals, children and families.
AAFP Activities
- AAFP Letter to Representatives Expressing Continued Concern Over AHCA - May 3, 2017(1 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to House Leadership Opposing Modified AHCA Legislation - May 1, 2017(2 page PDF)
- Joint Letter to House Leadership on Recent AHCA Reisions(2 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to House Leadership Opposing Modified AHCA (2 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to House Leadership Opposing the AHCA(2 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to House Budget Committee on AHCA(5 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to Ways & Means on AHCA(3 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to Energy & Commerce on AHCA(3 page PDF)
- Joint Letter to Trump on Health Care Coverage(2 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter to All Members on Health Care Priorities(2 page PDF)
- AAFP Letter on Healthcare Reform(5 page PDF)