Two prominent advocacy groups are voicing strong opposition to the Republican's latest effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
AARP is calling upon the U.S. Senate to scrap the American Health Care Act passed earlier this month by the House of Representatives, and start anew on health care reform.
In a letter sent Monday to all 50 senators, AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond wrote while the ACA is "not perfect and could benefit from improvements," the GOP's current replacement bill "is not the answer" because of the "devastating impact" it would have on older people.
Recommended For You
"It would weaken the fiscal sustainability of Medicare; dramatically increase premium and out-of-pocket costs for 50-64 year olds purchasing coverage on the individual insurance market; allow insurance companies to once again discriminate against those with pre-existing conditions; substantially increase the number of Americans without insurance; and put at risk millions of people with disabilities and poor seniors who depend on the Medicaid program to access long-term services and supports and other benefits," LeaMond wrote.
The advocacy group for older Americans is urging the Senate to "start from scratch" and work on a new bill that would ensure "robust insurance market protections, controls costs, improves quality, and provides affordable coverage to all Americans."
The American Medical Association is also calling upon the Senate to oppose the AHCA based on a number of provisions currently in the legislation.
AMA's chief executive James L. Madara, MD. wrote in a letter sent Monday to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, that the advocacy group recognizes the ACA needs to be fixed, but that AHCA as currently drafted would significantly curtail access to affordable insurance and undermine the Medicaid program.
"We recognize that the current law can be improved and that there are problems that need to be fixed," Madara wrote. "However, we do not support changes to the health care system that would result in health care coverage being beyond the reach of those who are currently covered, that would weaken the health care safety net, or that would compromise the ability of physicians to provide care for our patients."
The AMA is calling for proposals that would maintain key insurance market reforms, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions, guaranteed issue, and parental coverage for young adults, as well as stabilize and strengthen the individual insurance market, ensure that low- and moderate-income patients are able to secure affordable and adequate coverage, and adequately fund Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and other safety net programs.
"Furthermore, we believe that the health care system can be further strengthened by reducing regulatory burdens that detract from patient care and increase costs and by providing greater cost transparency throughout the health care system," Madara wrote.
A Politico article says a number of centrist Republican and Democrat Senators are conducting "back-channel" talks to possibly draft new bipartisan legislation that would keep the ACA intact, but fix noted shortcomings — in case the AHCA fails.
"I really want us to have a bipartisan bill," Sen. Susan Collins said in a recent interview, according to Politico. "I just think will be so much better. And we have better ideas."
"So that's my goal," Collins added. "You end up with a better bill, you end up with better acceptance by the public."
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
Katie Kuehner-Hebert
Katie Kuehner-Hebert is a freelance writer based in Running Springs, Calif. She has more than three decades of journalism experience, with particular expertise in employee benefits and other human resource topics.
