U.S. Reps. Diane Black (R-TN), Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Greg Walden (R-OR), each serving in leadership roles on key committees, praised last week’s House approval of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) as a step toward patient-centered health care reforms.
Black, Tiberi and Walden also acknowledged that Thursday’s vote to approve AHCA, which would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was just one step in an ongoing process to improve the nation’s health care system.
“Our focus has always been on bringing down the cost of health insurance, ensuring access to quality care, and protecting those with pre-existing conditions,” Black, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said. “This bill does that and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to find real solutions to help Tennesseans.”
In Tennessee, premiums have increased 60 percent and parts of the state are not served by a single insurance provider in the marketplace, while two-thirds of counties have only one provider, she noted. “The American Health Care Act rescues the American people from this law and puts in place patient-centered reforms that promote choice and freedom.
Tiberi, chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, echoed those sentiments. He noted that “Obamacare is failing,” leaving people with higher costs, fewer choices and unreliable care.
“With the American Health Care Act, we are providing relief from these pervasive problems that are hurting Americans from all walks of life,” Tiberi said. “(Thursday’s) vote is one part in our multi-step approach to carefully transition to a patient-centered system where people have better access to quality care at a price they can afford. It ensures that no one can be denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions.”
The plan will also give states additional flexibility and resources to meet the health care needs of their populations if they show they can drive down costs and boost coverage.
Walden, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said people have suffered under a one-size-fits-all health care law that has been failing for the last seven years.
“The American Health Care Act will put patients, families and their doctors first,” Walden said. “It will protect those with pre-existing conditions and provides states with the flexibility they need to help meet the unique needs of their citizens.”
“The American people deserve better than what they received under Obamacare and the American Health Care Act delivers on our commitment to rebuild our health insurance markets and provide relief to the American people,” Walden added.
The effort to improve health care now passes to the Senate as it debates the bill. Tiberi encouraged the Senate and the Trump administration to focus on additional steps to restore the free market, increase choices, lower costs and put Medicaid on a sustainable fiscal path.