NTU urges all Representatives to vote “YES” on H.R. 1628, the “American Health Care Act.” This reconciliation bill is one critical part of a multi-step process to fully repeal and replace the disastrous “Affordable Care Act” (ACA). H.R. 1628 would reduce taxes, empower individual health care consumers, shift power from Washington to state capitals, and restrain government overreach.
H.R. 1628 would eliminate two of the most egregious elements of the ACA: the employer and individual mandates. It would repeal hundreds of billions of dollars in tax hikes on investment, medical devices, health insurance, the “medicine cabinet,” tanning, and prescription drugs; and implement these cuts retroactively to January 1, 2017. This would give consumers an immediate economic boost and make many health care products more affordable.
Instead of mandates, H.R. 1628 empowers individuals and families via a means-tested, advanceable, refundable tax credit to choose the best health insurance option for their unique needs. It would effectively extend to individuals the tax benefits that currently exist for employer-provided health insurance to create a level playing field in the insurance marketplace and target assistance toward those who need it most. Increased health insurance options and strengthened health savings accounts would likewise restore health care decision-making to where it belongs: with consumers.
Additionally, the legislation would enact sweeping Medicaid reform, giving states the option to adopt either block grants or a per-capita allotment funding mechanism. These changes would save taxpayers money, give states the ability to better serve their Medicaid population, and restore financial sustainability to an unsound program.
In the ongoing fight for health care that puts patients first and enhances, rather than harms, our economy, there is still much to do. A laudable desire for legislation that goes further should not be an impediment to moving forward with solid reforms that move the ball forward. H.R. 1628 would provide urgent relief for taxpayers and represent the first major step toward free market health care reform.
Roll call votes on H.R. 1628 will be heavily-weighted in our annual Rating of Congress and a “YES” vote will be considered the pro-taxpayer position.
If you have any questions, please contact NTU Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift at (703) 683-5700