Iowa Capital Dispatch
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said Monday the health care bill she is leading in the U.S. House would address the “root causes” behind rising health care premiums while not seeking to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act,” sponsored by Miller-Meeks, is House Republicans’ proposal to tackle rising health care costs amid growing concerns about the end of ACA enhanced tax credits at the end of the year.
The legislation contains multiple proposals that Miller-Meeks said would reduce premium costs, including providing funding for cost-sharing reduction payments under the ACA beginning in 2027. “Cost-sharing reductions” lower deductibles, copayments and out-of-pocket maximums for one of the ACA plans, depending on income. The bill also adds new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to share information on prescription drug costs and other decisions.
Additionally, the legislation would allow more access to Association Health Plans, with Miller-Meeks saying the legislation would let more employers, including self-employed workers, “get the same benefits through the Obamacare that larger companies have.” It also makes changes to the definition of stop-loss insurance and codifies and makes changes to CHOICE rules that allow employers to offer defined contributions for employees purchasing their own health coverage plans.
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