Raja Convenes Round Table of Policy Experts and Community Stakeholders to Discuss Consequences of Affordable Care Act Repeal
SCHAUMBURG, IL – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi convened a round table of policy experts and community stakeholders today from across the 8th Congressional District which includes Chicago's west and northwest suburbs to probe the issues associated with the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Topics included the impacts of repeal on those with employer-sponsored health plans, the most positive aspects of the Affordable Care Act on patient health outcomes, and participants' concerns about turning Medicaid into block grant programs.
"I'm glad we were able to bring together so many expert voices from the community to speak to the issues facing our health care sector if the Affordable Care Act is repealed," said Rep. Krishnamoorthi, the Ranking Member of the Health Care Subcommittee for the Committee on Government Oversight and Reform. "Today's discussion clarified the disastrous consequences of repealing the Affordable Care Act, but it also highlighted the huge benefits the law has already brought to patients and providers, as well as the ways we can build upon them to improve the Affordable Care Act. I know I'll carry everything I learned today with me as I fight to strengthen our health care system in Congress."
Round Table Participants Included:
Don Franke (AMITA Health, Senior Vice President Clinical Integration)
Len Wilk (President/CEO St. Alexius Medical Center)
Dr. John Jay Shannon (CEO, Cook County Health and Hospital System)
Karen Ayala (Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department)
Linnea Windel (CEO, VNA Health Care)
Dr. Ronald Weglarz (CEO, Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System)
Karen Beyer (Executive Director, Ecker Center for Mental Health)
Kara Murphy (President, DuPage Health Coalition)
Barbara Otto (CEO, Health & Disability Advocates)
Dr. Kevin Kovitz (Pulmonologist, Alexian Brothers Medical Center, University of Illinois Hospital Health and Science Center)
Dr. Madhuri Thota (Family Practice Physician)
Dr. Ram Krishnamoorthi (Assistant Professor, University of Chicago Hospital System)
Dr. Alvia Siddiqi (Chair of the Board of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians)
Pam Hayden (Senior Director Research and Quality Improvement, North American Spine Society)
William Mulvaney (Benefits Advisor, BenAxis, Inc.)