Donald Trump’s American Health Care Act attacked by top US medical aide Dr Andrey Ostrovsky
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Version 0 of 1. One of America's most senior medical officers has spoken out against Donald Trump’s plan to replace Obamacare with the American Health Care Act (AHCA). “Despite political messaging from others at HHS, I align with the experts from [American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association] in opposition to #AHCA," Andrey Ostrovsky MD wrote on Twitter. Dr Ostrovsky has served as chief medical officer for The Center for Medicaid - a social health care program for families and individuals with limited resources - and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) services, since October. Mr Ostrovsky’s remarks came after Mr Trump hailed the newly proposed bill - which some have dubbed as "Trumpcare" - as “wonderful”. The President tweeted: “Our wonderful new Healthcare Bill is now out for review and negotiation. ObamaCare is a complete and total disaster – is imploding fast!” The proposed new system would scrap packages from the Affordable Health Care for America Act, known as Obamacare, in favour of refundable tax credits. It would scale back the former President’s expansion of Medicaid – the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for low income Americans. It would also reduce funding for Planned Parenthood, a family planning organisation which provides abortion – which remains a highly contentious issue in the US, as well as enabling insurers to impose a 30 per cent surcharge on premiums for any lapses in coverage. Lottery winners will also be barred from claiming Medicaid and the bill will also repeal a tax on indoor tanning beds. Major medical groups have also voiced opposition to the plan, along with many members of Mr Trump's Republican Party. In a letter addresses to the House of Representatives, the American Hospital Association (AHA) urged politicians to find ways of doing more to improve health care for the poor, elderly and disabled. "Health care coverage is vitally important to working Americans and their families," the letter read. "We recognise this measure represents the first step in a process. It is critical that this process be thoughtful and focused on finding ways to improve our health care system, particularly for the poor, elderly and disabled. "We ask Congress to protect our patients, and find ways to maintain coverage for as many Americans as possible. We look forward to continuing to work with the Congress and the Administration on ACA reform, but we cannot support The American Health Care Act in its current form." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticised the proposed cuts to Planned Parenthood, which provides millions with access to mammograms and cancer screenings as well as maternity care. Critics are also concerned that the new bill does not immediately roll back the Obama expansion of Medicaid eligibility to most poorer adults in more than 30 states, while others oppose universal healthcare provision of ideological grounds because they view insurance as any other consumer good. Obamacare has significantly reduced the number of Americans left without health insurance since it became law in 2011. Some have attacked it however, claiming it has increased the cost of some packages and increased the national debt. If enough Conservatives vote against the bill, it could fail to pass through the chamber. The Republicans hold only a slim majority in the Senate and it would require just three of them to vote against the bill to derail it if the Democrats vote in a block. |