Repeal of Health Reform Would Seriously Undermine Efforts to Protect Public Health, Says APHA

“Health reform has already begun to dramatically transform the nation’s health delivery system in a way it has never been done before. We must renew — not backpedal on — our efforts to ensure all Americans have access to the quality, affordable health care they need through this historic law.

“The law includes a number of meaningful solutions to the complex problems currently plaguing the public health system and the people it serves, including measures to:

• Provide mandatory funding for community-based prevention and wellness programs and activities that will substantially improve the health of ourselves, our families and our neighbors;
• Cover an additional 32 million uninsured Americans, which will decrease the number of preventable deaths;
• Bolster our public health and primary care workforce, which will increase access to health and public health services; and
• Improve the overall quality of the nation's health system, reducing the number of preventable medical errors.”

“Earlier this month, APHA sent a letter to all members of the House urging them to oppose this measure, which would seriously compromise our efforts to improve health and control costs, and further erode our nation’s public health infrastructure. While we are disappointed in today’s revisiting by some in the House of Representatives, we remain hopeful that the Senate will do the right thing and work to protect the health of all Americans.”