A group of 48 former health officials, including six former presidents of the American Medical Association, have expressed their concerns about the potential impact of Donald Trump's policies on healthcare if he is re-elected in 2024.
A formidable group of former health officials have sounded the alarm on the potential consequences of Donald Trump's return to the Oval Office, citing his history and contradictory proposals on healthcare as alarming indicators of a dire threat to the nation's well-being.
Led by Dr. Andrew Gurman, former president of the American Medical Association, this coalition of 48 healthcare experts has penned a letter expressing their apprehensions about the former president's policies and their implications for American families.
"If he is elected president, Donald Trump will make our fears a reality," the letter asserts. "The price of healthcare for American families under Trump would skyrocket, while millions would lose access to healthcare altogether."
The group emphasizes the lack of clarity in Trump's healthcare agenda, forcing them to deduce his potential actions based on his previous tenure and campaign rhetoric. Among their concerns is his desire to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which has extended coverage to millions of Americans.
They further highlight his intentions to cut funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program, eliminate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, reduce resources for veterans' healthcare, and impose further restrictions on abortion access.
"I am concerned that, based upon what I saw during the Trump presidency and what I have heard him say during the campaign, that returning Mr. Trump to the Oval Office could have real and negative effects on the health of our country," Gurman said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The letter highlights the potential impact on millions of Americans who rely on affordable and accessible healthcare. "I am concerned that millions might lose access to health care altogether, and that for the rest it might well become much more expensive," Gurman added.
Dr. Gurman and his colleagues underscore the importance of American voters being fully informed about the risks associated with Trump's return to power. "I think that people need to hear those concerns, and that’s why I signed the letter," he emphasized.
President Biden's campaign has welcomed this letter, with communications director Michael Tyler stating that "every chance Trump got while in office, he made it his mission to rip health care away from working families."
Tyler further criticized Trump's campaign promises, warning that "a second Trump presidency would mean the American people would risk getting sicker, going broke, both or worse with soaring prescription drug costs, the elimination of protections for patients with preexisting conditions and wins for Big Pharma at the expense of working families."
In response, Trump's campaign has rejected these accusations, labeling them as "outright lies." "President Trump is running to make less expensive healthcare options available for people without eliminating the Affordable Care Act," said Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt accused President Biden of "destroying Obamacare and the entire healthcare system with his open borders invasion," alleging that the administration is providing free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, which will lead to higher healthcare costs and wait times for American citizens.
With the 2024 presidential election approaching, voters must carefully consider the potential consequences of Trump's healthcare policies, based on his past actions and the concerns raised by former health officials. Their insights highlight the critical need for informed decision-making to protect the health and well-being of the nation and its people.
