Rep. Black: Obamacare Limits Vanderbilt Patients' Access to Care

Rep. Black: Obamacare Limits Vanderbilt Patients’ Access to Care

Congressional Documents & Publications

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Diane Black (R-TN-06), a registered nurse and member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, responded to reports that Vanderbilt University would be out of network on all insurance plans available through Tennessee's Obamacare marketplace in 2017. Black released the following statement:

"Obamacare continues to hurt the very people it pretends to help and diminish Tennesseans' healthcare options," said Congressman Diane Black. "I have been to Vanderbilt University Medical Center many times and I have seen the care their doctors provide. By separating patients from the physicians they know and trust, Obamacare hurts Tennesseans who have regularly turned to Vanderbilt in their time of need and shows that, once again, the law's core promise of 'if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor' returns void. With 73 of our 95 counties only offering one insurer on the Obamacare exchange and the marketplace described as 'very near collapse,' Tennessee is quickly becoming the epicenter of Obamacare's failures through no fault of our own. My invitation for President Obama to come to our state and meet with the latest victims of Obamacare's broken promises still stands. In the meantime, we must replace this law before it inflicts further damage on our great state."

Background:

Congressman Black is the author of H.R. 6067, the Relief from Obamacare Exchange Failure Act. The legislation would withhold penalties under Obamacare's individual mandate for consumers in areas where no exchange plans may be offered. The bill would stipulate that, if the remaining insurer were to exit the marketplace in the 73 Tennessee counties with one available provider, consumers would not be held responsible for the Administration's failure to offer options for care. Currently, there is no law on the books to offer reprieve from Obamacare's individual mandate in scenarios where no plan is available.

Rep. Black Op-Ed: Obamacare Has Failed My State of Tennessee, Here's What We Can Do Instead (8/25/16) http://ijr.com/opinion/2016/08/259580-obamacare-failed-state-tennessee-heres-can-instead/