Rep. Angie Craig Continues Work to Lower the Cost of Health Care for Minnesotans

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Angela Craig, D-Minnesota, issued the following news release:

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- Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019 Advances Through the Energy and Commerce Committee

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U.S. Rep. Angie Craig reiterated her commitment to lower the cost of health care and expand access for Minnesota families after the Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019 received a key hearing in the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health this week.

The Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019, cosponsored by Rep. Craig, would allow Medicare to negotiate its drug pricing and create a public health insurance option for Minnesota families. It would increase competition in the individual marketplace for Minnesota families by establishing a public option health plan to compete with large insurance companies. The bill also contains tax provisions to incentivize more families to get covered, allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices, and creates a reinsurance program to lower health insurance costs, similar to Rep. Craig's bill, the State Healthcare Premium Reduction Act.

"I've traveled across the district and heard from cancer patients and survivors, Alzheimer's caregivers, Type 1 diabetics, community health advocates, and providers from all across the district," Rep. Angie Craig. "That's why I'm proud to see the Medicare-X Choice Act of 2019 receiving the consideration it deserves under the leadership of Chairwoman Eshoo. I urge my colleagues to join me in taking immediate action to reduce the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs for hard-working Americans."

Rep. Craig has introduced or cosponsored 59 bills to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs. Those include her introductions of the State Healthcare Premium Reduction Act, which would lower health insurance costs in the individual market; the PRICED Act, which would increase competition for more affordable generic drugs; and the Emergency Access to Insulin Act, which would create emergency insulin supplies and hold big drug companies accountable for jacking up prices. Additionally, she has held six health care listening sessions across the district in Eagan, Burnsville, Northfield, Wabasha, Shakopee, and Red Wing.