Mary Ann Hodorowicz RD, MBA, CDE, Certified Endocrinology Coder  talks about how the new American Health Care Act will impact people with diabetes on March’s Diabetes Late podcast. CLICK TO LISTEN

Mary Ann is a 25+ year veteran in diabetes education and a current AADE board member who is passionate about helping with people with diabetes. During our interview, Mary Ann discussed  several key issues ( including pre-existing conditions and preventive care) addressed in the American Health Care Act which will repeal and replace Obamacare. (You can read the bill online at readthebill.gop.)

According to Representative Paul Ryan, the goal of the American Health Care Act is to give every American access to quality, affordable health care. For families, that means lower costs, more choices and greater control.

The American Health Care Act intends to give states more funding and flexibility to support high-risk pools and reinsurance programs. Where Obamacare was built on mandates and coercion that make coverage more expensive, our plan takes care of those in need without driving up costs for everyone else.

It’s important to note that the American Medical Association (AMA) outlined provisions of the American Health Care Act that would have an adverse impact on patients and the health of the nation. Largely due to the decline in health insurance coverage the bill would likely cause, the AMA is unable to support the AHCA as drafted.

“The AMA supported health system reform legislation in 2010 because it was a significant improvement on the status quo at the time; and although it was imperfect, we continue to embrace its primary goal – making high-quality, affordable health coverage accessible to all Americans,” AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. said. “As drafted, the AHCA would result in millions of Americans losing coverage and benefits. By replacing income-based premium subsidies with age-based tax credits, the AHCA will also make coverage more expensive – if not out of reach – for poor and sick Americans. For these reasons, the AMA cannot support the AHCA as it is currently written.”

Republicans have long said that they have to empower patients as consumers to spur competition and bring down costs. That’s why they will also nearly  double the amount of money you can contribute to health savings accounts to pay for out-of-pocket expenses. This will end Obamacare’s limits on how you save and spend your health care dollars.

What do you think?