Top Health Group Celebrates Affordable Care Act Anniversary
TL/DR –
The Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has urged Congress to protect key provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on its 14th anniversary, highlighting its role in making healthcare accessible and affordable for millions of Americans. The ACA has resulted in a significant decrease in uninsured adults, expanded Medicaid, and provided access to vital preventive care and screenings without a copay, among other benefits. However, the TFAH warns that the ACA is at risk due to litigation, non-expansion of Medicaid in some states, and the redirection of funds meant for the Prevention and Public Health Fund to other legislations or priorities.
Trust for America’s Health Campaigns to Uphold Affordable Care Act’s Pivotal Roles
As the 14th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) approaches, Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) petitions Congress to conserve the principal elements of the Act. Launched in 2010, the ACA represented an unparalleled breakthrough in health policy, rivalling the inception of Medicare and Medicaid, dramatically improving healthcare accessibility and affordability for countless Americans.
The ACA implemented a public marketplace for health insurance, expanded Medicaid eligibility for low-income adults, guaranteed coverage for preventative services, and launched the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF). These provisions are vital for health equity and public health prevention, despite attempts to repeal and constrain the ACA.
Prior to ACA, the U.S. Census Bureau reported an escalating uninsured rate, soaring over 16% in 2010. Preventive health services, such as cancer screenings and vaccinations, were costly and hard to obtain for many Americans.
Post-ACA, health insurance enrollment skyrocketed with 40 states and D.C. broadening Medicaid. This resulted in a nationwide drop in uninsured adults from 18-65, reaching 12.2% in 2022 as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Uninsurance rates also dropped for Black, Latino, and Asian Americans, as well as lower-income households.
Medicaid expansion led to health benefits and a decline in mortality rates. This was highlighted in a 2021 study which also noted the positive impacts on healthcare affordability, access to care, financial security, and state economies.
The ACA also facilitated access to essential preventive care and screenings at no copay. The PPHF, an ACA development, provided over $12 billion to reinforce disease detection, expand immunizations, and prevent chronic diseases, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing health expenditure. For instance, the PPHF-supported Tips from Former Smokers Campaign helped one million smokers quit, preventing an estimated 129,000 premature deaths.
The ACA, however, remains at risk. Ten states have yet to expand Medicaid eligibility. Continuous Medicaid enrollment reduction during the COVID-19 public health emergency has left many without health coverage. Legal challenges could overturn ACA’s preventive services coverage requirements, threatening access to these life-saving services. An amicus brief describes the potential ramifications.
Another threat is the redirection of nearly $13 billion meant for the PPHF to other legislation or priorities. Over 100 organizations and TFAH penned a letter opposing these cuts.
TFAH, while urging Congress to restore PPHF funding and protect preventive services access, reiterates the importance of the ACA. “The ACA is a critical catalyst toward the goal of ensuring the opportunity for optimal health for everyone. It has unlocked access to healthcare including preventive services for so many in this country, including those at the highest risk of poor health” said J. Nadine Gracia, president and CEO of Trust for America’s Health.
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