ACP applauds American Rescue Plan

The American College of Physicians (ACP) says that health care provisions contained in the new American Rescue plan will help relieve pressure put on patients and physicians by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP, president of ACP, says the organization is pleased to see that the American Rescue plan will help in combatting the pandemic by substantially increasing funding for vaccines, for education and vaccine confidence, to improve testing and contact tracing. It also requires state Medicaid programs to cover COVId-19 vaccines and treatments fully to better protect populations who rely on the coverage.

The legislation also includes provisions which aim to address health care beyond the pandemic, such as increasing funds sent to states to expand Medicaid, extending Medicaid coverage for post-partum women, and providing funds to improve access to health care coverage. The bill includes provisions which provide subsidies and tax credits to help with enrollment in Affordable Care Act plans and COBRA coverage, according to the statement.

The rescue plan also provides funds for treating veterans and eliminates cost-sharing and copayments for them during the pandemic, the statement says.

“Having faced and continuing to face so much worry about the health of our patients, our own personal health and what’s next for the state of health in America, seeing the actions that are being taken by Congress to address these issues is very promising,” Fincher says in the statement. “As physicians treating American residents on the frontlines of health care, ACP will continue to advocate for a fair and just health care system in United States.