Hoosier lawmakers have different takes on health care bill

May 05--ANDERSON -- Delivering on a long-standing campaign promise, the entire Republican delegation from Indiana in the U.S. House voted to start the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

They helped get a 217-213 approval of the legislation, which now faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate.

Among those voting for it was Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Ind., whose 5th District includes Madison County and had been listed as undecided until Wednesday evening.

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., said following the vote that he will fight to make sure the House GOP doesn't pass the Senate.

Donnelly has for several years called on Republicans to abandon their efforts to repeal Obamacare and work to make improvements to the existing act.

"Hard-working Hoosier families, including the more than 400,000 Hoosiers who have care through HIP (Healthy Indiana Plan) 2.0 or the millions of Hoosiers with a pre-existing condition, deserve better than this disastrous legislation," Donnelly said in a press statement.

"The bill will make it tougher and more expensive, including those with pre-existing conditions, to get coverage, harder to access opioid and heroin treatment programs, and raise premiums on older Americans," he said. "We should be making our health care system better, not worse."

In a press release, Brooks said the legislation restores competition and choice to the health care marketplace and lowers insurance premiums.

"Today, we kept our promise to the American people," she said in the release. "We repealed Obamacare and took the first steps towards achieving more affordable healthcare choices and coverage for Americans with passage of the American Health Care Act in the House.

"There has been some misinformation about what this bill does, and I want to correct the record," Brooks said. "Most importantly, this legislation ensures that no one can be denied coverage, including people with pre-existing conditions. In addition, no one, regardless of health status, will be charged higher premiums if they maintain their coverage. Finally, this bill prohibits insurers from rescinding coverage based on a pre-existing condition."

Brooks said the legislation should lower costs for Hoosiers and offers advanceable, refundable tax credits to help people afford health care coverage.

"It will increase competition and choice in the healthcare marketplace, repeals harmful taxes like the medical device tax, eliminates burdensome mandates and the IRS penalty, and puts decisions about your healthcare back in your hands," she said.

The legislation allows children up to the age of 26 to continue to receive health care coverage through their parent's insurance policy.

Rep. Luke Messer, R-6th District, called the vote an exciting day for those working and fighting to end Obamacare.

"This is a step away from more government control of our health care and our day-to-day lives, and a return to freedom for all Americans," he said in a press release.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.

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