October 17, 2017

New Dem Health Care Leaders on Senators Reaching a Bipartisan Deal on Healthcare

Reps. Kurt Schrader (OR-5), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-07) and Annie Kuster (NH-02), co-chairs of the New Democrat Coalition Task Force on Affordable and Accessible Healthcare Task Force, and New Democrat Coalition Chair Jim Himes (CT-04) released the following statement after Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.) came to a bipartisan deal to extend cost-sharing reduction subsidies for two years.

This announcement comes after the Senate HELP Committee recently resumed discussions on a bipartisan path forward on healthcare in Congress and after the White House Press Secretary issued a statement last week indicating that the Trump Administration will end cost-sharing reduction payments.

“Now’s the time when we should be providing health care certainty and stability to families, not slamming them with curve balls and double-digit premium increases, said Congressman Schrader. “I’m glad to see Senators Alexander and Murray are moving quickly in response to the President’s reckless decision to end cost sharing reduction payments. Our group has been working on a bipartisan solution for months in the House, and we will keep working to push a comprehensive policy across the finish line.”

“Too many Americans are struggling with health care costs and have waited too long for Congress to act,” said Congressman Bera. “I look forward to reviewing the details of this agreement that Senator Alexander and Senator Murray are working towards and I’m hopeful that this plan provides certainty and flexibility to counteract the harm from President Trump’s recent actions. Kuddos to both Senators for offering a path forward. Solutions only come when we work together and put people before politics.”

“I’ve long called for Republicans and Democrats to work together across the aisle to make commonsense improvements to the Affordable Care Act to stabilize the individual marketplace and rein in costs,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “The plan I helped unveil earlier this year contained numerous proposals including both a reinsurance program and funding for cost-sharing reduction payments to address cost issues. I’m encouraged that Senators Alexander and Murray are making progress in the Senate toward ensuring CSR payments move forward. This is an important step, and I stand ready to work in a bipartisan manner in the House to improve healthcare for all Granite Staters and Americans.”

“In recent months, Congressional Republicans have threatened to pull the rug out from under America’s families?—?taking away their coverage, their access to health care and threatening their economic security. Today’s agreement is a glimmer of hope that Democrats and Republicans can work together to develop real solutions that improve the ACA and build on the tremendous progress it has made for millions of Americans,” said Congressman Himes. “The bipartisan agreement announced by HELP Committee Leadership to reverse President Trump’s decision to defund cost-sharing reductions is a good place to start. Without action, the cost burden from ending these subsides would fall on the rest of the health insurance market, increasing premiums and raising the deficit by $194 billion over the next 10 years. Now is not the time to remain silent on other issues affecting affordable access to health care. Now, more than ever, the Senate HELP Committee must take on a bipartisan approach that paves the way to address long-term stability and predictability to the individual market.”

Earlier this year the New Democrat Coalition, along with other House Democrats, put forward a proposal to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The New Dem-led set of proposals to stabilize the market and make health care more affordable for American families:

  • Guaranteed cost-sharing payments to reduce out-of-pocket costs
  • Dedicated reinsurance funds to keep premium costs down
  • Increased insurance coverage through outreach and enforcement
  • Additional flexibility to create more affordable insurance options while protecting consumers
  • Marketplace improvements and technical changes

In recent months, bipartisan support had grown on the need to improve the ACA individual marketplaces to provide certainty and limit premium increases. Now Congress must take on a bipartisan approach that paves the way to address long-term stability and predictability to the individual market.

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