Rep. Kuster Backs Medicare Buy-in and Health Care Stabilization Act

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Ann Kuster, D-New Hampshire, issued the following news release:

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- Legislation would lower costs of prescription drugs by requiring Medicare to negotiate volume discount on pharmaceuticals

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Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, announced her support of the Medicare Buy-In and Health Care Stabilization Act. This legislation would expand access to Medicare to allow people aged 50 to 64 to buy into the program and authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate volume discounts on prescription drugs.

"I've spoken with Granite Staters throughout my district about the need to improve access to healthcare and lower the costs of care and prescription drugs," said Kuster. "We know that the vast majority of people who use the Medicare program are happy with its service and I believe opening up enrollment to a larger segment of the population will offer an affordable, quality care option for people nearing retirement age in New Hampshire and across the country. I'm committed to working with my colleagues to push back against President Trump's efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act and will continue to focus on ways to improve access to health care for all Americans."

Last week, Kuster introduced the Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act (HR 986) with Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), which would revoke Section 1332 guidance released by the Trump Administration's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on October 22, 2018.

That guidance weakened protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions. Kuster has focused on working across the aisle to improve the Affordable Care Act. She unveiled proposals to address the cost of healthcare and stabilize the individual marketplace and has pushed back against partisan efforts to undermine the ACA.