Georgia’s family physicians have, once again, been actively engaged in the last round of federal health care debate related to reform and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. With ongoing support and constant communication from the AAFP Government Relations staff – Georgia’s family physicians expressed grave concerns and opposition to the multiple versions presented over the last six weeks.
Multiple calls and AAFP Speak Out letters were sent to Senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue from our membership. GAFP leaders also weighed in with multiple letters from coalitions including:
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Hospital Association
- Patient Centered Physician Coalition of Georgia
- Cover Georgia
- Voices for Georgia’s Children
- Georgian’s for a Healthy Future
In our letter with the Chamber and the Georgia Hospital Association we asked Senator Isakson to “carefully consider the effects these policies will have on hospitals and physicians as they care for all patients and their communities, as well as the effects on Georgia businesses, which rely on our healthcare providers to care for their employees.”
This letter was picked up in several publications including the New York Times – https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/us/politics/republicans-health-care-bill.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad
In Georgia, doctors, hospitals and business groups expressed similar concerns. “Without the increased federal funding that comes with Medicaid expansion, health care providers in non- expansion states are left with all of the cuts, but none of the coverage,” said a letter to Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia, from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians and the Georgia Hospital Association.
While the efforts for replacement and/or repeal continue to move at lightning speed, we ask that you continue to be keeping abreast of the information that the AAFP and the Georgia Academy is sending to you related to changes to our health care system and potential federal legislation. Your continued discussion with our key leaders were a part of slowing this process down which could have damaged thousands of Georgia’s patients. Thank you and we will continue to seek ways to partner with our policy leaders and key stakeholders to make improvements for family medicine and all Georgians.