President Reiterates Strong Commitment to Affordable Care Act while Providing Earlier Flexibility to States

State Flexibility Must Adhere to the Act’s Standards in Improving Health Coverage, Benefits, and Affordability–Critical Standards for America’s Consumers

Washington, D.C. – Today the President reiterated to governors his commitment to move forward with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act while expressing his support for moving up the schedule in current law enabling states to experiment with alternative ways of fully meeting the goals of the health reform law. The following is the statement of Ron Pollack, Executive Director of the consumer health organization Families USA, about this development:

“The Affordable Care Act creates much-needed improvements in affordable, high-quality health care for Americans across our nation. We deeply appreciate the President’s unwavering, continued support for the Act and the Administration’s effective implementation efforts.

“The President’s action today does not change the substance of the Affordable Care Act, but it does accelerate the time schedule for states to experiment with alternative methods for securing the improvements underlying the Act.

“Such experimentation, under the existing statute, is intended to make sure that alternative ways of implementing the Act result in similar or better improved coverage, health benefits, and cost-sharing protections. Adherence to these principles is essential.

“For many individuals and families, especially those with moderate incomes, it will be critically important that regulations defining allowable State Innovation Waivers require premiums, benefits, cost-sharing for services, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs to be at least as protective for families at each income level as provided in Medicaid and the exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. The tests and benchmarks for comparability must be carefully and clearly defined before states move forward with waivers.”

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org