Repealing Obamacare without a replacement will create havoc for states and force some smaller hospitals to shut down, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell is set to warn Congress on Monday, the Washington Examiner reported.
"Governors of both parties have said that repeal and delay would create unacceptable uncertainty for their state budgets, and their states' economies," according to an excerpt of Burwell's remarks, which added some rural or community hospitals will "have to shrink or even shut down if they can't count on funding through Medicaid," which was expanded under the law.
In her last address as secretary, Burwell is also expected to warn: "If the Affordable Care Act is repealed without a replacement, the damage to the country's individual insurance market will begin this spring," because "If health insurance companies don't know what the market will look like going forward, many will either raise prices or drop out."
The speech comes as Republicans are set to vote later this week in the Senate on a budget resolution that will begin the Obamacare repeal process.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has called for Democrats to help make the situation better, telling Fox News: "We want their ideas to improve our healthcare system. We want to find ways to work together on this important issue."
He also called warnings the health system would fall apart alarmist, noting with Obamacare individual markets are already collapsing.
As Obamacare is repealed, Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., vowed in the weekly Republican address there will still be a stable transition period so "no one has the rug pulled out from underneath them."
Black said a new system will still protect those with pre-existing conditions and permit insurance to be purchased across state lines to ensure there is competition and fair prices.
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