PHILADELPHIA – Mayor Kenney and City Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley released the following joint statement on the impact of the Congressional Republicans’ plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

“The Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act is a big tax cut for the rich at the cost of low and middle income families.  The bill would cut Medicaid, defund Planned Parenthood, and replace assistance to lower-income people to buy health insurance with tax credits for the rich.  In the end, it will lead to many Philadelphians losing their health insurance, and those with health insurance paying more out of pocket.”
“More than 200,000 Philadelphians have gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act, over 160,000 through Medicaid and about 60,000 through the Marketplace. The ACA has also enabled 160,000 additional Philadelphians to receive treatment for mental illness or substance use through the Medicaid behavioral health program, which is operated by the City’s Department of Behavioral Health. Furthermore, in the three years that the ACA has been in effect, the Philadelphia region has added approximately 20,000 jobs in the healthcare and education sector.

“The alternative proposed by Congressional Republicans, the American Health Care Act, would create new tax credits for high-income people, while cutting financial support for working families to buy health insurance. It also ends the requirement that employers offer health insurance benefits.

“Additionally, this bill would for the first time in 50 years cap federal funding for Medicaid, instead of providing the level of support that states need to provide services for their most vulnerable. Ultimately, this bill would lead to fewer people covered by Medicaid, and those who are covered would receive fewer services.

“Finally, AHCA would defund Planned Parenthood, which would deprive thousands of women in Philadelphia of the preventive health services that they are currently receiving.”