A Message from Commonwealth Fund President Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D.
For over a century, the Commonwealth Fund’s mission has been simple: Affordable, quality health care. For everyone.
Last week, Congress passed, and the president signed, legislation that will cut Medicaid and alter eligibility and coverage through the health insurance marketplaces. This law and other federal policy changes will bring about the largest decrease in health coverage in the nation’s history. As many as 17 million Americans could lose their insurance — erasing most of the coverage gains achieved since the Affordable Care Act was passed 15 years ago.
Make no mistake, having coverage matters. We have decades of evidence linking health insurance to improved health and quality of life. The loss of coverage threatens the health of our neighbors, makes it harder for all Americans to access and afford care, and places unimaginable burden on patients, providers, states, and health systems. Quite simply, these policies will lead to greater rates of illness, suffering, and death — especially for vulnerable populations, including those living in rural areas.
The Commonwealth Fund has always stood for a health system that works for all, and we’re not going to stop now. Over the coming months, we will be sharing the Fund’s new direction while doubling down and prioritizing efforts in the short term that help us pursue our mission.
This is what we will do:
- Monitor, track, and report on the rollout of the new policy changes so that their real-time impact is clear.
- Evaluate how the changes affect people’s health and security.
- Translate and communicate the policies and their effects to a wide array of audiences.
- Educate and support state and federal policymakers as they navigate these changes.
- Reimagine the future of a U.S. health system that fulfills the goal of quality health care for all Americans.
Times like this can create great despair for all who are committed to helping our communities and our country become healthier and more secure. But they can also energize us to work even harder to make our goals a reality. We are grateful for your partnership and hope you will join us in this critical, lifesaving work.
