Mark Walker
The House Republican Study Committee (RSC) unveiled a plan last week to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and replace it with a free-market solution that would reform the nation’s health care landscape.
U.S. Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), the chairman of the RSC, released the American Health Care Reform Act on Wednesday.
“Obamacare was built on a foundation of higher taxes, excessive mandates and broken promises,” Walker said. “The effects of Obamacare are clear: the American people are anxious about their health security, their out-of-pocket costs have soared and their choices for insurers and doctors have dwindled.”
Walker noted that the RSC previously developed and released legislation to repeal and replace the ACA during the 113th Congress and 114th Congress.
“We look forward to working with House leadership and the incoming administration to restore sanity to our health care system,” Walker said. “Our bill reorients our system away from bureaucratic mandates to compassionate care for patients by trusted doctors, paid for in a responsible way.”
U.S. Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN), a sponsor of the American Health Care Reform Act, said he was proud to reintroduce the ACA repeal and replacement bill.
“Americans have been struggling under President Obama’s failed policies for far too long, and they deserve real affordable health care options,” Roe, a doctor, said.
“The American Health Care Reform Act will do the things President Obama promised and failed to do through his health law: increase access to and lower the cost of health care,” Roe added.
U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR), an original cosponsor of the ACA replacement bill, said it would use free market ideas to “expand access to insurance, spur competition, and encourage innovation.”
“Between solutions outlined in our Better Way Agenda, including Medicare and Medicaid reforms, and the RSC proposal, House Republicans are working to fix one of the greatest blunders of the Obama administration — its failed health care policy,” Hill said.
Vice President-elect Mike Pence visited the Capitol last week to outline the president-elect’s commitment to repealing and replacing Obamacare.
“They are committed to working with Congress to create a plan that will actually accomplish what the previous administration promised, such as lower premiums and deductibles and increased access to care,” Hill said.