Sen. Alexander Issues Statement on Goals for Senate Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following statement on House passage of the American Health Care Act:

"I congratulate the House on passage of its bill.

"The Senate will now finish work on our bill, but will take the time to get it right.

"My own goals for a Senate bill include: 1) rescuing the thousands of Tennesseans and millions of Americans who will be trapped in collapsing Affordable Care Act exchanges with few or even zero options for health insurance in 2018 unless Congress acts; 2) lowering premium costs, which have increased under the ACA law; 3) gradually giving states more flexibility on the Medicaid program, but do this in a way that does not pull the rug out from under people who rely on Medicaid; and 4) making sure those with pre-existing conditions have access to insurance."