Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would repeal some provisions of the Affordable Care Act in an effort to prevent limited access to life-saving medical care.
The Repeal Rationing in Support of Life Act would repeal the excess benefits tax on comprehensive insurance plans so insurers could continue providing coverage of potentially life-saving medical treatments that increase plan costs.
“Obamacare has made many Americans fearful that cost-cutting and rationing of care will limit their options for healthcare at a time when they are vulnerable – when they are sick or battling a life-threatening condition,” Roberts said. “By introducing this bill, we are fighting against hidden barriers to treatment and life-saving medicine.”
The measure would repeal an ACA provision that prohibits insurers from participating in exchanges if they offer benefits that are deemed “excessive or unjustified.”
The Independent Payment Advisory Board would also be repealed under the measure.
“Under Obamacare, Washington bureaucrats can dictate one uniform standard of healthcare that is designed to limit what private citizens are allowed to spend, with our own money, to save our own lives,” Roberts said. “This is not right.”
The Repealing Rationing in Support of Life Act would also address the ability of the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to review insurance bids and reject Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D bids.