Schrader Leads Bipartisan Health Care Plan to Stabilize the Individual Market

Less than three weeks after initiating a conversation on stabilizing the individual market with a plan that's been endorsed by roughly half of the Democratic Caucus, Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) today led the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in unveiling a similar plan to improve the system to provide some predictability as insurance companies make decisions about premium prices in 2018.

"The country is fed up with partisanship and politics taking precedence over real solutions to the problems we are facing, especially in health care," said Rep. Schrader. "Right now, we have serious problems in our individual health care marketplace that both sides recognize. Let's deal with them! Continued uncertainty will put that market into a death spiral. My colleagues and I in the bipartisan Problem Solvers caucus have listened to experts, insurers and providers to come up with a simple straightforward revision to the ACA to make sure 20 million Americans still get affordable health care without facing exponential increases in premiums or deductibles. Rank and file Democrats and Republicans are willing to work together to solve some of America's toughest problems. Please join us."

The plan is similar to Solutions Over Politics, the five-part plan to improve the Affordable Care Act that Rep. Schrader, along with nine other Democrats, unveiled earlier this month. Last week, the group formally submitted their plan to the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee after receiving the support of roughly half of their caucus.

The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus plan follows:

Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Proposal to Stabilize the Individual Market

It is clear that the individual health insurance market is deteriorating in some areas of the country and we must act quickly to stabilize it. We all agree that the individual market needs restructuring, and we should swiftly implement changes in time to take effect for insurance plans offered for 2018. Committees of jurisdiction should begin to address the issue through regular order.

To stabilize the individual market and provide some immediate relief, we propose exploring realistic solutions including the following:

1. Bring cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Congressional oversight and appropriations process, but ensure they have mandatory funding. CSR payments are an important part of helping households earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level afford to participate in the individual market. Bringing CSR payments under the appropriations process ensures that Congress can provide proper oversight.

2. Create a dedicated stability fund that states can use to reduce premiums and limit losses for providing coverage--especially for those with pre-existing conditions.

3. Adjust the employer mandate by raising the threshold on the requirement for employers to provide insurance under the employer mandate to businesses of 500 employees or more. The current employer mandate places a regulatory burden on smaller employers and acts as a disincentive for many small businesses to grow past 50 employees. Additionally, the definition of "full time" under the employer mandate should indicate that a full-time work week is 40 hours.

4. Repeal the medical device tax. This tax adds a 2.3% sales tax on medical device supplies. The costs of the tax are passed on to consumers and it should be repealed.

5. Provide technical changes and clear guidelines for states that want to innovate on the exchange or enter into regional compacts to improve coverage and create more options for consumers.

* Section 1332 of the ACA allows states to innovate and share in health savings while offering strong plans with all essential health benefits. Some states have begun to experiment in this regard, with great potential for success. However, some technical legislative changes and/or revised HHS guidance may improve attractiveness to additional states.

* Similarly, Section 1333 of the ACA allows states to enter into Health Care Choice Compacts, which allow insurers to sell across state lines in participating states. However, HHS has not yet released regulations on Section 1333. HHS should issue clear guidelines and work with states to spur innovation and bring more choice and competition to the market while protecting consumers.

We must continue to explore additional ways to improve patient choice and responsibility, create positive incentives for providers to lower costs, and enhance state flexibility. During the August work period, we will meet with constituents and stakeholders and will return to Congress ready to take action.

We believe that this proposal should be paid for. We stand ready to work to find agreeable offsets within federal health care spending.

Read this original document at: https://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390909