Executive Order Will Not Protect Patients With Pre-existing Conditions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Monday, Sept. 28, 2020

Statement attributable to:
Gary L. LeRoy, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians 

“The American Academy of Family Physicians supports efforts to ensure that all patients, including those with pre-existing conditions like asthma and diabetes, have access to quality, affordable health coverage. Our policy calls for health care coverage for all, and the Affordable Care Act has formed the foundation for a health care system that works toward that goal.

“The policy contained within the executive order announced on September 24 lacks the force of law and, therefore, cannot actually protect patients with pre-existing conditions from discrimination. The AAFP believes the best way to protect these individuals is for the Department of Justice to discontinue their support of the lawsuit to strike down the ACA.

“The AAFP supports the goals of providing better care to Americans outlined in the September 24 executive order and is encouraged that the administration seeks to build on existing innovations within the Department of Health and Human Services and the Veterans Administration. We urge the administration to support and strengthen the ACA instead of continuing to undermine legislation that has provided access to essential health care at a time when Americans can ill afford to lose it.”

Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. LeRoy, contact Megan Moriarty, 913-302-8627, or mmoriarty@aafp.org.

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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 133,500 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, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.familydoctor.org