NMA Condemns ACA Repeal

Online, July 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - "The political posturing of the House of Representatives is not useful to patients, but rather is a prescription to harm over 30 million uninsured Americans and their families. Since the opponents of the law have no credible plan to insure uninsured Americans, today's vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act is a waste of everybody's time and energy. Further, continued lack of access to care ensures premature deaths and decreased quality of life for millions," said Dr. Cedric Bright, Internist and President of the National Medical Association (NMA).

The NMA is the nation's oldest and largest association of African American physicians. The NMA's membership consists of physicians from all of the medical specialties and serves millions of patients across the nation. The NMA has long fought for increased patient access, and has led the charge to decrease health disparities.

According to recent estimates, about fifty million Americans, or one in six people, are uninsured. In other words, the combined populations of - Oklahoma, Connecticut, Iowa, Mississippi, Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, West Virginia, Nebraska, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, Vermont and Wyoming - are forced to turn to emergency rooms when faced with a medical crisis.

"If all uninsured Americans voted as a block, they probably would be the largest voting block in the land. More importantly, four out of five uninsured are hard-working, tax-paying Americans, and their taxes support the healthcare of the public servants elected to protect their best interests. Instead, many of these public servants went on record today to deny their most vulnerable constituents much needed care," Dr Bright added.

"African American physicians are committed to working ensure the most optimal implementation of the law. Political grandstanding will not help our patients get better, but the Affordable Care Act is already helping us to improve our patients' health outcomes," Bright concluded.