Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: THE House of Representatives on December 17 passed a health care reform bill amid an intra-party debate on whether to extend the expiring enhanced premium tax credits offered in the Affordable Care Act exchanges.
The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act aims to lower health insurance premiums in both the Affordable Care Act exchanges and the general market. The Affordable Care Act is former President Barack Obama’s health care law, known as Obamacare.
The bill passed in a 216–211 vote. One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), joined all Democrats in voting against the bill. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act includes five provisions to reduce the cost of health insurance and broaden access to it including greater transparency in prescription drug pricing, providing federal funding to reduce the copayments and deductibles paid by some Obamacare customers, and making it easier for businesses that self-insure their employees to buy stop-loss insurance.
Republicans said the changes are needed because Obamacare has failed to live up to its promise of lowering the cost of health insurance. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act now moves to the Senate, where a Republican bill to replace the enhanced subsidies with Health Savings Accounts failed to advance on December 11.
Earlier, the House voted 204-203 in a procedural move to stop the lastminute attempt by Democrats, aided by four Republicans, to force quick votes on a three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidy.
