Period of Adjustment

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to Congress outlining progress on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In the letter, federal officials discuss how the law will continue providing Americans with more freedom in their healthcare choices throughout 2011 as implementation of the Act continues.

Republicans in the House and Senate have vowed to dismantle the Act, forcing millions of families, seniors, other individuals and small businesses to lose the support and protections the Act offers, according to the letter.

The officials plea with Congress to "consider all that this law has already done to improve the health and financial security of so many Americans" as they evaluate proposals that are likely, in their view, to lead to higher costs for enrollees, skyrocketing premiums, fewer protections and less competition.