Seattle hospital director: ACA replacement plan would cost his facility $637 million
In the debate over the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican-sponsored plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), little has been said about its impact on hospital finances, but one Seattle hospital executive indicated it would be devastating.
Paul Hayes, executive director of the 419-bed, county-owned Haborview Medical Center, said the AHCA, in “combination with other cuts,” would result in $637 million in lost revenue for the hospital over the next decade.
“Now that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed [the AHCA], we are receiving many, many questions and concerns from our staff, our patients and those who look to us for hope and for healing," Hayes said, according to KOMO.
The legislation, passed out of the House solely on Republican votes, would allow states to waive required health benefits in insurance plans, including hospitalization and emergency care and allow insurers to charge those with pre-existing conditions higher premiums. The result, Hayes said, would be patients delaying or avoiding care.
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.