Statement by Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, President & Chief Executive Officer
Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)

March 23, 2020 marks ten years since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Thanks to the ACA more than 20 million people have gained health coverage and our nation has been able to dramatically lower its rate of uninsured. The benefits provided by the ACA are all the more critical today as our country faces the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanded Medicaid coverage for millions, protections for people with pre-existing conditions and covering essential health services are even more important as some of our most vulnerable populations face the risk of being affected by this pandemic.

We continue to draw strength from Catholic health care’s history of healing our community during these public health emergencies and by working collaboratively with government and other stakeholders. CHA hopes that Congress and the Administration continue to work together to protect our communities and prevent further spread of the coronavirus. And we look forward to working with them in the coming years to build on the success of the ACA and create a health care system that truly works for everyone in our nation.

Download a PDF of the Statement

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The Catholic Health Association of the United States is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, representing the largest nonprofit provider of health care services in the nation.

• 1 in 7 patients in the U.S. is cared for in a Catholic hospital each day.
• Catholic health care, which includes more than 2,200 hospitals, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, systems, sponsors, and related organizations, serves the full continuum of health care across our nation.