What: 

American University experts are available to discuss the Trump Administration’s latest push to strike down the Affordable Care Act, the implications of this move for the 2020 elections, Obamacare’s impact on the health of Americans and what has been achieved – and not achieved -- since its enactment.  

When: 

June 26 - ongoing, via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, phone, or email

Experts available for comments include:

Caroline Bruckner, a professor in the Department of Accounting and Taxation in the Kogod School of Business, worked extensively on the ACA bill as counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in 2009. She can provide commentary on the implications for small businesses. Bruckner teaches courses on business law, fundamental principles of federal income tax and business implications of the future of work and has released research on the gig economy as well as women business owners and the U.S. tax code. Bruckner is an experienced media resource on tax issues generally and her research, and has been featured in numerous national outlets and publications including: CNBC’s The Closing Bell, Yahoo Finance, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, Forbes, Time and Fortune.

Capri S. Cafaro, executive-in-residence at the School of Public Affairs, is the former Democratic leader of the Ohio State Senate. She is available to speak about a wide range of topics related to the ACA, including its political implications and access to health care. 

Jocelyn Johnston is a professor in the School of Public Affairs. Her research focuses on government contracting, public management, and intergovernmental programs and policy. She served for ten years in local government, administering federal and state-funded social welfare programs. Prof. Johnston can comment on issues related to the roles of the states in crafting and implementing the ACA.

Aparna Soni is a health economist in the School of Public Affairs at American University. She can comment on issues related to the effects of coronavirus outbreak on the U.S. healthcare system and the uninsured. Soni’s most recent publications look at the impact of the Affordable Care Act on access to care and health outcomes.

Nina Yamanis is an associate professor in the School of International Service. Her research focuses on health disparities and community-based interventions that aim to improve outcomes among vulnerable groups. Yamanis is available to comment on issues related to immigrant access to health care, and how to reach underserved and vulnerable populations with public health interventions in the context of the ACA and the coronavirus outbreak.