Daisy Baez: Attacks on ACA are attacks on health care access, innovation

As a former hospital executive, a health care consultant, and a former member of the Health Innovation Subcommittee in the Florida House of Representatives, I’ve seen firsthand how access to quality, affordable health coverage can save lives.

The Affordable Care Act has driven significant progress on access to care and innovation. The law ended discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, autoimmune disease, cancer and asthma. It allowed young people to remain on their parents’ health plan until age 26, giving them the opportunity to establish a career while being covered. And the ACA gave the states the option of expanding Medicaid, bringing coverage to hardworking, low-income families.

As a result, about 20 million more Americans — and 1.5 million more Floridians — are insured today. Even as the Trump administration slashed enrollment assistance, sign-ups on the exchanges remained strong for 2018. More insurers, including Oscar Health in Florida, are entering the marketplaces for 2019, and more states are reconsidering their Medicaid decisions. Virginia was just the latest, opting to cover 400,000 more residents.

But, this comes at a time when Florida’s uninsured rate — already the highest in the nation — ticked up for the first time in years, rising more than 5 percent to 2.68 million people without coverage. Florida’s uninsured rate of 12.9 percent is well above the national average of 8.8 percent. More than 130,000 of our fellow Floridians became uninsured in the past year, which drives up health care costs for everyone.

In addition to benefits for patients, increased access to insurance helps local medical centers, thanks to falling rates of uncompensated care. The changes are also transforming U.S. health care into a value-based system, designed to maximize positive patient outcomes.

This is something that patients want. Why? Because it means “feeling good” is a measure of success. It means employers are building a healthier, more productive workforce. And it’s something budget hawks should get behind, because it will save federal and state governments, businesses and families money.

This shift toward value-based health care is leading to some major innovations, as well. Cigna is boosting quality and controlling the cost of care for people with coronary artery disease, by linking reimbursement rates to health outcomes. Florida Blue is offering proactive, in-home care services for the clinically fragile, to help high-risk patients avoid the emergency room and hospital readmission. Prestige Health Choice, a Medicaid managed care plan, is using biometric monitoring to assist individuals with Type II diabetes. Other platforms are providing integrated, personalized plans to help individuals reach their health goals, whether an expecting mom seeking nutrition advice, or a senior citizen hoping to safely incorporate more exercise into their life.

These types of innovative and technology-enabled solutions empower patients to take charge of their health. Paired with free preventive care services, they are among our best tools for reducing chronic disease, which accounts for over three-fourths of U.S. health care spending. That means health care innovation can deliver wellness and sustainable budgets.

I developed my passion for health care in the United States Army as a Preventive Medicine Technician. That’s why I care about electing leaders who are committed to protecting access to health care.

Democratic candidates for Congress, like my good friend Debbie Mucarsel-Powell running in the 26th District, have already made health care a top issue in their campaigns. And with health care under assault by Donald Trump and Republicans, we need leaders who will preserve and build on the Affordable Care Act.

This is a fight worth winning on behalf of South Florida’s families. With her fellow leaders in Congress, I know she’ll keep up the pressure to defend the ACA from attacks, and ensure America continues on the road toward greater health care access, value and innovation.

___

Daisy Baez is the former State Representative for District 114, and founder of the Dominican Health Care Association of Florida. She lives in Miami.