Sen. Lankford Issues Statement on Revised Senate Healthcare Bill

WASHINGTON, July 13 -- The office of Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., issued the following statement on the release of Senate Republican's revised healthcare reform bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act:

"The Affordable Care Act is driving up costs and driving out choices for Oklahomans. I believe we need healthcare reform that provides better healthcare choices and helps bring down costs for people in our state.

"I have started analyzing the revised draft bill to determine its benefits for Oklahomans. My goal is to vote on healthcare reform legislation that will be affordable and practical for Oklahomans of all socioeconomic levels and all health conditions.

"I will fight for a system that offers more choice, lower premiums, and a stronger, sustainable safety net for vulnerable Oklahomans."

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NOTABLE POINTS ON THIS REVISED BILL:

* Continues coverage for people with preexisting conditions.

* Allows dependents to stay on their parents health policies until age 26.

* Does not make any changes from current law to annual lifetime coverage limits.

* Does not cut Medicaid. Funding for Medicaid would continue to grow, yet not at the steep, beyond-inflation growth that is projected over the next 10 years. For example, under the BCRA, spending on Medicaid in 2026 will increase to $466 billion, a 26 percent increase from now.

* Provides state Governors with more flexibility in how their Medicaid system provides healthcare to those who are eligible.

* Provides assistance for low-income Americans by offering health insurance subsidy assistance for Americans in the 0% to 350% federal poverty level range.

* Eliminates the individual and employer mandates penalties.

* Makes no changes to Medicare, which is the primary source of health coverage for Americans 65 and older.

* Allows people to use their pre-tax Health Savings Accounts to pay for their health insurance premiums.

* Creates a Medicaid special exemption for disabled children from the per capita caps, which guarantees children with medically complex disabilities will continue to be covered through Medicaid.

* Will not include any changes from current law to the net investment income tax, the additional Medicare Health Insurance (HI) Tax, or the remuneration tax on executive compensation for certain health insurance executives.