Support is rapidly declining for the U.S. Senate’s draft legislation to reverse the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Several conservative Senators say it doesn’t do enough to repeal the ACA, while many others have publicly stated that they will not support legislation expected to diminish the quality of coverage, increase out-of-pocket costs, and leave 22 million more Americans uninsured by 2026.
The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act most notably aims to:
Repeal the tax increases previously instituted to fund the ACA
Reduce federal funding for Medicare and rollback its expansion under ACA
Eliminate subsidies and reduce tax credits that help individuals purchase insurance
Weaken ACA’s essential health benefits requirement by allowing preventive and wellness services to be waived by states
The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) vigorously opposes this bill because it would hinder our ability to invest time and resources in models of care and interventions that we know prevent disease and promote health—like those at the core of lifestyle medicine.
Recent proposals to repeal the ACA—made in the name of reducing costs and deregulating care—would ultimately stifle the positive impacts lifestyle medicine and its core competencies are having on the culture and effectiveness of American health care.
As providers and health advocates, it is our responsibility to illustrate the importance of these principles and defend care models so critical to our patients’ wellbeing.
Even though a vote on the Senate bill has been postponed, providers need to remain vocal about the importance and value of lifestyle medicine. Your expertise and unique experiences in these matters can be powerful tools used to support this growing discipline.
Take a few minutes to share your perspective. Submit a short paragraph, 75 words or less, describing why lifestyle medicine is important to you and what is at stake if this type of legislation is passed. Your input is needed today.
We’ll share your insights with members of Congress, leaders in the lifestyle medicine field, and include some submissions in the July issue of the Lifestyle Medicine newsletter.
ACPM develops and advocates for public and practice policies consistent with scientific principles of the discipline of preventive medicine, and supports the continued exploration of the scientific basis, best practices, and need for education in lifestyle medicine.
ACPM distributes lifestyle medicine news and updates each month.
