Doctors Fight Back Against Proposed Health Care Repeal

Repealing and replacing the health care law has been the rallying cry of the GOP ever since the law went into effect earlier this year. And now, with a majority in the House, it's finally looking like they're getting a chance to do it.

Incoming majority leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) announced that the vote to repeal the legislation will take place next Wednesday, a mere week after the Republicans take control of the House. Turning away from what they used to call the "government takeover of health care," the House GOP now refers to their target, in the actual H.R. bill, as the "job-killing health care reform."

But while they gear up for their largely symbolic vote of repeal -- it won't pass the Senate or get Obama's signature -- others are ramping up against their efforts.

Doctors for America, a non-profit group that advocates for affordable, quality health care, is getting signatures from doctors and medical students who don't want to see the House try to repeal health reform.

"Every day, we see a broken health care system that is failing patients and health care providers. That is why we stand behind the Affordable Care Act as an important first step in fixing out health care system," they state in their letter, which they'll deliver along with their stories to Representatives Boehner and Cantor.

A doctor from Seattle, WA writes that "Health reform has already improved access to basic care services for many of my patients and their young adult family members. Instead of huge ED [emergency department] bills for minor injuries, they are cared for in our clinic for pennies on the dollar compared to having not access and paying emergency room costs."

Cost is one area that the GOP hasn't addressed in their proposed repeal. Since they haven't come up with a replacement, that also means they haven't taking into account the $124 billion that the Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cut from the federal deficit.

Other groups have called on those Representatives that have opposed health care reform to give up their own benefits. The Democratic Campaign Committee is putting out "hypocrisy alerts" in the districts of new lawmakers who haven't yet decided to give up their benefits. And a CREDO Action petition on Change.org calling on those members of Congress who opposed health care reform to give up their health care benefits has over 4,430 signatures.

The letter from the doctors notes that repeal is a step in the wrong direction. "Instead, we ask you to work with us in building upon the Affordable Care Act, making it stronger, and ensuring that we can create a health care system that works for all Americans."

If you are a health care professional, help Doctors for America reach their goal of 2,500 signatures by signing their letter of support for health care reform. If you're not, you can sign the CREDO Action's petition telling members of Congress to give up their health care before repealing ours.

Photo credit: ProgressOhio