As ACA open enrollment begins, Upton highlights “A Better Way”

As Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment begins for 2017, U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) highlighted House Republicans’ plans for patient-centered reforms that aim to improve healthcare quality and affordability.

Upton, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, noted in a column that the Obama Administration told the American people in 2009 that ACA would provide a one-stop shop for patients to choose affordable health plans.

“Six years later, the facts tell a different story,” Upton wrote. “Major health insurers like Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealth are fleeing the exchanges, leaving as many as one-third of counties and seven entire states with only one carrier. The CO-OPs continue to close at a rapid rate, costing taxpayers over $1.8 billion so far – forcing tens of thousands of Americans to find a new plan – yet again.”

House Republicans’ “A Better Way” policy agenda, Upton said, outlines an ambitious plan to help Americans secure and keep health coverage.

“Flexibility is critical – not bureaucratic mandates. Our plan clears the red tape and regulatory burdens to accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving devices and therapies. Our plan also strengthens Medicare, a vital program for today’s – and tomorrow’s – seniors,” Upton wrote.

The plan emphasizes patient-first reforms that aim to improve the quality of care, lower health care costs, and restore freedom and flexibly to healthcare consumers. Importantly, the blueprint will not deny consumers coverage based on pre-existing conditions. It also allows patients to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26.

The House Republicans’ plan builds on the 21st Century Cures Act, which was passed by the House in 2015.

The 21st Century Cures Act would remove barriers to boost research collaboration, incorporate patient perspectives into drug development and establish a new regulatory review process that changes the way diseases are viewed and treated, Upton wrote.

“’Cures’ places an emphasis on personalized medicine and the development of new medical apps that will help save time, money and lives,” he said. “Through this initiative, the entire biomedical ecosystem will be able to coordinate and collaborate more efficiently in order to find faster cures.”