Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Statement Regarding Amended Senate Bill

BOSTON, July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Andrew Dreyfus, President & CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, released the following statement on the amended Better Care Reconciliation Act proposed by the U.S. Senate:

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts remains opposed to the newly amended Senate health care bill (the Better Care Reconciliation Act or BCRA) because it would result in the loss of coverage for millions of Americans.

While we recognize that the new version of the bill provides additional funding to help combat the opioid epidemic and contains certain provisions to stabilize health insurance markets, in the long term the bill's deep Medicaid cuts would obstruct access to care for millions of families throughout the country.

The bill could also create a new divide between those who are seriously ill and those who are healthy. A fair, stable health insurance system requires an adequate number of both sick and healthy people who contribute to the pool of funds available to pay medical claims. Whether for individuals or small businesses, provisions of the BCRA deepen this divide and would create an unfair and unstable market making coverage out of reach for those who need it most. This division would be further intensified with the inclusion of the "Consumer Freedom Option" because it undermines pre-existing condition protections. As a health insurance CEO, this is not an option that we want or need.

We believe that the Senate bill impedes the meaningful progress that our state and nation have made to extend the peace of mind and security that insurance coverage brings to both the sick and the healthy.

We encourage the Senate to work on bi-partisan solutions that support increased access to high quality and affordable care for all Americans."

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not–for–profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We're the trusted health plan for more than 25,000 Massachusetts employers and are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we're rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts