February 08, 2020

Inside Health Policy: New Dems Endorsed Bills for ACA Improvement Package

The moderate New Democrat Coalition has endorsed a slate of bills that aim to improve the Affordable Care Act and hope the measures, along with a number of others the group previously endorsed, will be included in a health reform package that Democratic leadership hopes to unveil around the 10th anniversary of the ACA this March.

“We'll continue to work with Committee and Caucus leadership to move the ball forward on these bills,” a New Democrat Coalition spokesperson says.

The bills endorsed Thursday (Feb. 6) would change the open enrollment system to align with tax time, increase the accuracy of provider directories, grant states flexibility to experiment with universal coverage pathways and amend health savings account rules, among other reforms.

“The American people deserve solutions that move past partisan posturing and make real progress to improve our health care system, lower costs of care, and achieve affordable, universal coverage,” said New Democrat Coalition Chair Derek Kilmer (WA). “As the administration undermines our health care system and creates uncertainty for millions of Americans, including those with preexisting conditions, the NDC has been tireless in our efforts to develop and pass health care policies that work for the American people.”

The New Democrats also support Rep. Angie Craig’s (MN) bill (H.R. 1425) that provides $10 billion a year for a state-based or federal reinsurance program, and Rep. Mark Veasey’s (TX) bill (H.R. 584) that would provide any state that decides to expand Medicaid three years of full federal funding.

Sources previously told Inside Health Policy that the House was eyeing the March 23 ACA anniversary for bringing a health package to the floor that builds off the Pre-existing Condition And Making HealthCare More Affordable Act (HR 1884) introduced by Democratic committee leaders, as well as Craig, last March. 

That legislation limits contributions to ACA premiums to 8.5% of income regardless of federal poverty level, increases subsidy generosity, fixes the family glitch, funds ACA outreach and marketing, funds a reinsurance program and reverses the Trump administration rules promoting short-term plans. 

The New Democrats have not officially endorsed the legislation. But weeks before the bill was introduced the coalition had urged the Democratic health committee leaders to focus on ACA improvements, and the bill mirrors many of their suggestions.

The slate of bills endorsed by the New Democrats this week include:

  • Rep. Ami Bera’s (CA) Pathway To Universal Coverage Act (H.R. 261) that provides grants to states to look for ways to increase exchange enrollment and particularly focuses on auto-enrollment for consumers eligible for $0 premiums.
  • Bera’s Easy Enrollment Act (H.R. 4332) that aligns exchange open enrollment with the federal tax filing deadline when people have more up-to-date data on financial information.
  • Rep. Kim Schrier ‘s (WA) Improving Provider Directors Act (H.R. 4575) that aims to protect patients from surprise billing by requiring plans to prominently display a way for the public to report errors, and to fix inaccuracies within 30 days.
  • Rep. Jennifer Wexton’s (VA) Health Savings For Families Act (H.R. 4576) that amends the tax code to let people contribute to HSAs if their spouse has a flexible spending account as long as certain criteria are met.
  • Rep. Suzan DelBene’s (WA) Improving Timely Access To Care Act (H.R. 3107) that would streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage
  • Rep. Terri Sewel’s (AL) Resident Physician Shortage Act (H.R. 1763) that would add 15,000 new Graduate Medical Education slots over the next five years. It also would require an analysis of strategies for increasing the number of health professionals from rural, lower income and underrepresented minority communities.
  • Rep. Kurt Schrader’s (OR) Medicare Enrollment Protection Act (H.R. 2564) that would ensure that Medicare-eligible seniors on COBRA are not penalized for failing to enroll in Part B.

By:  Amy Lotven
Source: Inside Health Policy


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