The ACC joined 42 other medical organizations on a joint letter addressed to congressional leadership in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, urging lawmakers to reject changes to Medicaid proposed this week by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Proposals currently under consideration include adopting work requirements for certain Medicaid patients, limiting states' ability to tax providers, stricter eligibility checks and more. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that these proposed changes would result in 10.3 million people losing Medicaid coverage with a total of 7.6 million going uninsured.

The ACC and its partners note that these reforms would threaten patient care guaranteed by the program, warning that "changes of the magnitude being proposed, combined with reductions in Medicare physician payment rates, would result in loss of coverage and risk exacerbating hospital and practice closures, particularly in rural areas, putting lifesaving and routine care out of reach for millions of our patients."

Throughout the congressional appropriations process, the ACC has remained steadfast in its commitment to championing access to care for all through efforts to fix the broken Medicare payment system, extending telehealth flexibilities, and now also by defending the Medicaid program and patients who depend on its coverage to receive timely, high-quality treatment.

"As organizations that represent our nation's physicians, we see firsthand how Medicaid coverage improves health outcomes and saves lives," the letter states. "We welcome the opportunity to work with Congress to identify sustainable strategies to strengthen the program and improve on its promise to provide high-quality coverage and access to care for populations in need."

Read the full letter and learn more about the College's efforts to champion access to care for all.