Will Trump Repeal Obamacare? Hospitals Warn Of ‘Public Health Crisis’ If Republicans Scrap Affordable Care Act

The U.S. healthcare industry warned President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans on Tuesday against repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, saying the move could trigger “an unprecedented public health crisis.”

The American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals, citing a 41-page report by the firm Dobson DaVanzo & Associates, said the industry could take a massive financial hit if Obamacare is repealed.

The report said that between 2018 and 2026, cuts just to Medicaid could result in a loss to the tune of $165.8 billion. Hospitals will lose a further $289.5 billion if changes to Obamacare cuts funding to hospitals with more number of Medicare patients.

Tom Nickels, the executive vice president for American Hospital Association, reportedly said these projected financial losses “cannot be sustained” in any part of the U.S. He added that repealing the Affordable Care Act without an immediate replacement for the same would “decimate hospitals’ ability to provide services, weaken local economies and result in massive job losses.”

However, healthcare industry leaders did not tell Republicans to protect Obamacare but urged them to not repeal the act without putting in place additional funding streams for hospitals. President of the Federation of American Hospitals, Chip Kahn, said the industry is willing to work with Republicans “in making a soft landing” if the law is going to be repealed and eventually replaced.

The Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010, covers nearly 20 million Americans. The act involved sacrifices on the part of various sections of the healthcare industry so millions could get insurance that help cover their medical expenses.

Trump, on the campaign trail, called Obamacare a “disaster.” However, he changed his stance after his November election victory, saying he would like to retain certain provisions of the act.

“Either Obamacare will be amended, or repealed and replaced,” Trump said in an interview with “60 Minutes.”

“I told him I will look at his suggestions and out of respect, I will do that,” he said of his meeting with Obama.

However, Trump’s pick for health secretary, Tom Price, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, was the chief architect behind a proposal to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

“We think it’s important that Washington not be in charge of health care,” he said in an interview this summer. “The problem that I have with Obamacare is that its premise is that Washington knows best.”