What’s Next for the ACA and the People It Covers
<p>If Republicans are unable to revive last week’s failed effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the nation will need to turn back to ensuring the long-term success of the law. Decisions made by the Trump administration, Congress, and state policymakers over the next few years will help determine how many people the ACA covers, how affordable the coverage is, and its cost to federal and state governments. </p><p>In a new <em>To the Point</em> post, The Commonwealth Fund’s Sara Collins and David Blumenthal, M.D., look at how the administration could use its executive authority to sustain, or undermine, the law’s key coverage and health system delivery provisions. They also discuss ways Congress might ensure the stability of the individual health insurance markets nationwide.</p>
<p>The authors say that as policymakers consider their options, they must keep in mind what’s at stake: the health and well-being of real people with real health care problems.</p>