WASHINGTON, DC (May 4, 2017): Today, the Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) – a coalition of employers, insurers, brokers, agents, patient groups, and physician organizations – responded to the House passage of the American Health Care Act. CAHC President Joel White released the following statement:
“The Council for Affordable Health Coverage has long warned of policies in the Affordable Care Act that have limited choice and driven up costs. We appreciate House efforts to repeal many of these policies that are making health care less affordable. Significant work remains, however, to address the drivers of health costs that are causing premiums and cost sharing to explode. We also must reverse the exodus of health plans from markets to ensure that millions are able to access needed coverage and care,” said Council for Affordable Health Coverage President Joel White. “Now begins a process whereby the Senate can consider needed improvements to the legislation. We support changes to strengthen coverage numbers and provide more robust upfront funding to stabilize markets and avoid sharp premium increases next year.”
White continued, “Markets are in peril. Over the next few weeks, we expect to see more insurer withdrawals – where much of the country will look like portions of Iowa and Tennessee with no coverage options available. The House bill does nothing to address this impending crisis. Congress must fix the system we are under now while they work on replacing damaging policies. We urge Congress to quickly consider other stabilization measures, including:
- Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Bob Corker’s (R-TN) legislation to allow subsidy portability for individuals with no options on the healthcare exchange
- Legislation to fully fund the healthcare law’s cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments until ACA replacement provisions are fully implemented.
- Reforms that lower hospital, doctor, and drug costs
Americans cannot afford to wait. We stand ready to work with members of both parties to ensure healthcare costs are contained and no one is left behind amid these looming changes.”
###
About the Council for Affordable Health Coverage
The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) is a broad-based alliance with a primary focus: bringing down the cost of health care for all Americans. CAHC promotes policies that lower health costs through increased competition, informed consumers and more choices to help promote access to affordable coverage.
About CAHC President Joel White
A veteran of health policy, Joel White became President of the Council for Affordable Health Coverage after serving twelve years on Capitol Hill, where he helped write nine laws, including Medicare Part D, and ultimately rose to the position of Staff Director of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee. His writings on health care policy have been published in Fox News, Morning Consult, The Hill, Washington Examiner, and Inside Sources, among others. Joel holds a B.S. in Economics from the American University and is the co-author of the book, Facts and Figures on Government Finance.