The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1) | A Message from CEO Dave Ressler

Love it or hate it, to many healthcare providers, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last month—is anything but beautiful. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that with the bill’s nearly $1 trillion in savings from Medicaid cuts over 10 years will also come an expected 10 million uninsured human beings by 2034. In addition, millions more are anticipated to drop off the rolls of individual health plans on state exchanges, unless Congress acts quickly to extend the enhanced premium tax credit subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year. Altogether, our country is taking a historic step backwards among high-income countries, where we are unique in not assuring healthcare coverage for all.

At Aspen Valley Health (AVH), our leadership team and board understand that we can’t change the course of this national policy, but we can be a voice of advocacy for our community’s healthcare needs. This support is especially pertinent as our state grapples with its own budget shortfalls that will also be a consequence of the national cuts. Moving forward, our focus will be on helping those in our community who will be impacted over the coming years by having to make hard choices regarding maintaining healthcare coverage on their own at considerably higher and, often, unaffordable costs.

Of course, AVH stands ready to provide charitable care to protect the most vulnerable patients in our community and those who can’t afford to pay, as we always have. But as we learned during the pandemic, consequences can be much more serious for those affected by a lack of coverage. Ultimately, when we forgo routine and preventive care, we compound our medical needs and increase costs down the road and, unfortunately, some lives may be lost when threatening diseases go undetected and untreated.

This is why primary care is an essential part of any healthcare system and why countries and communities with the best healthcare invest the most in these essential services. AVH started our own practice in 2019 with locations in Aspen and Basalt, where all in our community are welcome, and we continue to recruit additional providers to meet our growing demand. In addition, AVH is part of a partnership with Pitkin and Eagle Counties to support Mountain Family Health Center in Basalt, where excellent primary care and dental services can be received, regardless of the ability to pay.

AVH will also continue to provide reduced cost laboratory services at our health fairs every spring and fall and education and advice from experts in our monthly newsletters. In this month’s issue, we provide important information you need to know about measles and offer helpful tips for working moms who are breastfeeding.

Our commitment to provide access for all in our community, and to enhancing your health and wellbeing, endures whatever our industry’s future holds.

Dave