FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 3, 2020
Statement attributable to:
Gary L. LeRoy, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
“The American Academy of Family Physicians is discouraged by the Administration’s continued interest in undermining the Affordable Care Act, especially during a pandemic.
“In effect for a decade, the Affordable Care Act has provided needed patient protections and access to care. The return to pre-existing condition exclusions, annual and lifetime limits, and young adults without access to coverage on their parents’ health insurance plans represents a major step backwards in the shared goal of ensuring access to quality care.
“We are encouraged to see that Congress is taking a more productive path to pursue reforms to the law that builds on its successes. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 1425) would make needed improvements to the existing law by expanding access to health care coverage and strengthening patient protections.
“Now more than ever, in the face of a pandemic, we should be working to build on what works and not eliminate a law that has provided health care coverage to millions of Americans.”
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. LeRoy, contact Megan Moriarty, 800-274-2237, Ext. 6052, or mmoriarty@aafp.org.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.