PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON – Today, US Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) introduced the Fair Care Act of 2022, a comprehensive health care reform plan combining more than 75 bipartisan proposals to lower costs and decrease the number of uninsured. , protect people with pre-existing conditions and expand coverage options. The members issued the following statement:
“Republicans and Democrats alike can agree that our health care system is broken and in desperate need of reform. Health care does not have to be an issue that divides us”, Rep. Westerman said. “It is possible to loosen Big Government’s grip on our health care system, while lowering costs and reducing the number of uninsured Americans. The Fair Care Act is about putting families’ hard-earned tax dollars back into their pockets so they can make their own decisions about what health care coverage is best for them. I am confident that through the Fair Care Act, affordable health care is possible for all Americans.”
“Americans deserve a health care system that puts families first and gives them peace of mind when they get sick or injured,” Gonzalez said. “Despite significant efforts to control costs and increase access to care, too many Americans and businesses are struggling to find health insurance that is affordable and meets their needs. The Fair Care Act is a serious effort to finally test market forces to promote efficiency, improve the quality of services, develop more choices for consumers, and ensure patients receive value for money. This legislation outlines a path to follow that will provide certainty to families without breaking the fiscal bank. Perhaps most importantly, I think it is a proposal that can attract support from across the political spectrum. It’s a step in the right direction and I’m proud to support it.”
Stakeholder Support:
“We applaud Representative Westerman for introducing the Fair Care Act, a set of policies intended to give Americans personal choice in health care.” said Dean Clancy, Senior Health Policy Fellow, Americans for Prosperity. “By putting patients, not bureaucrats, in the driver’s seat, these reforms will lead to lower prices, better quality, and no more surprises when it comes to the cost of care. If enacted, the Fair Care Act policies will increase access to affordable, personalized health care solutions that all Americans can trust. We hope that legislators will support this proposal and others like it.”
Background
The Fair Care Act of 2022 is the third version of the Fair Care Act of 2019, crafted with more than 75 bipartisan provisions.
Some of the improvements of the Fair Care Act of 2022 include:
- Codification of pre-existing condition protections of the Affordable Care Act into HIPAA.
- Offering greater protections for patients with pre-existing conditions through an “Invisible Guaranteed Coverage Risk Group” and guaranteed coverage Medigap plans.
- Eliminate the employer health insurance mandate and allow those with Employer Sponsored Insurance (ESI) offerings to receive premium assistance.
- Strengthen and increase enrollment in the commercial marketplace through expanded assistance to 600 percent FPL and state innovation waivers.
- Expand the use of pre-tax dollars to cover more medical expenses, including insurance premiums and direct primary care arrangements.
- Promote transparency by publishing provider networks and prices for common services.
- Require medical providers to submit timely and transparent bills to patients.
Discourage hospital consolidation and anti-competitive behavior while protecting rural hospitals from closures. - Modernize the prescription drug approval process to get safe and effective medicines to patients faster.
- Reform pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, including eliminating direct and indirect compensation (DIR) fees.
- Expand the number of health professionals who can provide telehealth services.
Modernizing Medicare enrollment through a competitive bidding process, which promotes Medicare Advantage plans. - Establish a flexible Medicaid funding option for states and close the gap between Medicaid eligibility and premium assistance in the individual market.
- Promote the fiscal responsibility and creditworthiness of Medicare and Medicaid.