Sen. Feinstein Issues Statement on Bipartisan Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The office of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., issued the following statement in support of legislation crafted by Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., to stabilize the health care market:

"I strongly support the bipartisan compromise crafted by Senators Murray and Alexander. This plan will help mitigate the damage done to the Affordable Care Act when President Trump ended the cost-sharing reduction payments and slashed funding to promote open enrollment and assist consumers.

"If President Trump and congressional Republicans scuttle this bipartisan agreement, they'll own the damage they've caused.

"While this bill is an important step forward, we must do much more to strengthen the individual market and move toward universal coverage.

"One key improvement would be to pass my bill to expand eligibility for tax-credit subsidies to make premiums more affordable for middle-class families. Those hurt most by the Trump administration's sabotage of the individual market are families that don't receive any financial help. They pay the full cost of premium increases, which will increase by as much as 25 percent due to President Trump's actions.

"I also strongly support the bill put forward by Senators Kaine and Bennet to create a government-run health insurance plan, modeled on Medicare. This public option would allow anyone who doesn't receive affordable, employer-provided health insurance to choose a Medicare-like plan."