Rep. Walorski Issues Statement on Improvements to American Health Care Act

WASHINGTON, March 21 -- Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., issued the following statement on an amendment to strengthen legislation to repeal Obamacare and begin a stable transition to a better health care system:

"With the American Health Care Act, we are delivering on our promise to the American people to repeal Obamacare and repair our nation's health care system.

"These improvements will better help individuals and families access affordable health care and give states greater flexibility to implement innovative reforms like those in Indiana.

"President Trump met with House Republicans this morning and made clear he is with us 100 percent to deliver on our promise to the American people. I look forward to voting for this legislation and working with my colleagues in the Senate to get it to the president's desk."

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BACKGROUND

The House on Thursday is expected to vote on the American Health Care Act (H.R. 1628), which repeals Obamacare and replaces it with a better health care system that lowers costs, increases choices, and protects patients. The legislation will:

* Provide relief for families and small businesses from nearly $900 billion in burdensome taxes and mandate penalties;

* Ensure Americans have access to quality, affordable health care through tax credits, expanded health savings accounts (HSAs), and a Patient and State Stability Fund;

* Give states flexibility to implement innovative reforms and tailor solutions to the needs of their own citizens instead of one-size-fits-all policies from Washington;

* Protect patients with pre-existing conditions and allow young adults to stay on their parents' health care plan until age 26; and

* Begin a stable transition period to ensure no one has the rug pulled out from under them.

The amendment announced Monday evening is the product of an open legislative process and discussions between House Republicans and the Trump administration. It includes improvements to the bill that will:

* Ensure older Americans can access affordable health care by laying the groundwork for additional support for those aged 50 to 64;

* Give states greater flexibility with Medicaid by adding the option of block grants instead of per capita allotments for traditional Medicaid populations and allowing work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents;

* Accelerate tax relief by dismantling Obamacare's taxes and mandate penalties in 2017 instead of 2018;

* Strengthen pro-life protections to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions or abortion coverage; and

* Unwind the Medicaid expansion responsibly by preventing new states from enrolling in the expansion while continuing to allow individuals who enroll through 2019 to stay in the program until they naturally cycle out.

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