WASHINGTON – Today, the House passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act, a first step in fixing the current health care law. H.R. 1628 would repeal both the individual and employer mandates prescribed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while ensuring the federal government provides necessary protections and funding for lower-income Americans and providing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. The House also passed H.R. 2192 to ensure that Members of Congress are not exempt from these changes to our health care system. Now, the legislation advances to the Senate for consideration.
Following passage of the bill, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) stated:
“Last night, Aetna—one of the Nation’s largest insurers—made the announcement it would be pulling out of the ACA exchanges in the state of Virginia. Some counties in Arkansas also now only have one insurance option and, in September 2016, we saw a 25 percent average increase in premiums on the exchanges. Having one option is not choice and is not suitable. This lack of insurers participating in the exchanges, causing massive price hikes for those in search of affordable insurance, has become a repeating theme over the course of the last few years.
“The status quo is not working for Arkansas and not working for our country. The reform measure that we advanced today will lower the cost of care for individuals and families, provide coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and shift power back to the states with added flexibility in determining what policies will have the most positive outcomes on their own citizens and populations. What works in Arkansas might not work in California and this bill reflects that important understanding.
“This bill is just one important step in fixing our current health care system and still must undergo review and approval by the Senate before it may be signed into law. We also must continue to work with the administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to stabilize our health insurance markets and work with our colleagues in the House and Senate to enact additional legislative polices that will lower health care costs and increase competition and choices for all Americans.”
