While ultimately failing to get even 50 votes to advance in the Senate, each iteration of the GOP health care repeal bill was able to do one thing exceptionally well: unite major patient groups, consumer groups, hospitals, physicians and issuers against their legislation. The Alexander-Murray proposal has also brought these groups together, but for a different reason — they all have come out in support of the bipartisan legislation. As 29 of the country’s leading patient, provider, and consumer groups have written, “The committee’s proposal, which extends cost-sharing reduction payments and includes other mechanisms of stabilization, clearly moves us in the right direction.”
Read what the rest have to say below…
PATIENT GROUPS
29 Patient, Provider, And Consumer Groups: “The Committee’s Proposal, Which Extends Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments And Includes Other Mechanisms Of Stabilization, Clearly Moves Us In The Right Direction.” “The new bipartisan bill from the Senate HELP Committee Chair and Ranking Member offers some solid strategies to help restore confidence in the individual health insurance market. The return to regular order and bipartisanship are a much-needed breath of fresh air in an often-divided Congress. Senators Alexander and Murray deserve high praise for their leadership on this complex and challenging issue. The committee’s proposal, which extends cost-sharing reduction payments and includes other mechanisms of stabilization, clearly moves us in the right direction. The legislation also preserves and supports key protections for individuals with preexisting conditions. We look forward to fully engaging in the next steps of this process — which will include a thorough and ongoing review of this bill’s impact on patients and consumers — and we caution against any changes that might weaken existing patient protections.” [ALS Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Family Voices, GBS/CIDP Foundation International, Lutheran Services in America, March of Dimes, METAvivor Research & Support Organization, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Alopecia Areata Foundation, National Health Council, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, Project Sleep, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Scleroderma Foundation, The Marfan Foundation, U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association, United Ostomy Associations of America, United Way Worldwide, Volunteers of America, WomenHeart, 10/18/17]
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network: “This Deal Offers Important, Immediate Action To Stabilize The Individual Insurance Market.” “This deal offers important, immediate action to stabilize the individual insurance market. The funding of cost-sharing reduction payments and encouragement of state reinsurance programs would help add stability to the insurance market and should help to mitigate premium spikes for millions of patients while providing necessary security for insurers to remain in the market. Restoring $106 million per year in outreach and education programming would help to reduce public confusion over the law and ensure more people who need health coverage get it…The bipartisan plan is a good first step toward preserving patient access to meaningful health care.” [ACS CAN, 10/18/17]
CONSUMER GROUPS
AARP: “This Proposal Is An Important Step Toward Strengthening The Affordable Care Act Markets.” “We applaud Senators Alexander and Murray for their bipartisan leadership in working together to develop a health insurance market stabilization plan. This proposal is an important step toward strengthening the Affordable Care Act markets. As the debate continues, AARP will keep advocating for people age 50 and older to protect their access to affordable health care. AARP remains committed to working with Congress to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions that will increase health coverage, lower costs, and stabilize the insurance markets.” [AARP, 10/19/17]
Consumers Union: “We Urge Both The Senate And House To Make Passing Stabilizing Legislation A Priority So That Consumers Aren’t Left Paying The Hefty Price Of Inaction.” “We are encouraged by the bipartisan deal to stabilize the health insurance markets. This agreement — which includes funding the cost-sharing reduction payments for the next two years and restoring funding for enrollment efforts — incorporates consumer-first solutions that will strengthen the marketplaces and ensure that consumers can access affordable care…We urge both the Senate and House to make passing stabilizing legislation a priority so that consumers aren’t left paying the hefty price of inaction.” [Consumers Union, 10/17/17]
PHYSICIANS
American Medical Association: “We Urge All Members Of Congress To Support The Alexander-Murray Proposal.” “The American Medical Association supports the compromise proposal developed by Senators Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray to restore the cost-sharing reduction payments needed to stabilize the individual and non-group health insurance markets through 2019. Multiyear action is needed to maintain the availability and affordability of individual health insurance plans that millions of Americans count on for access to the medical care they need. We are pleased the proposal includes additional health plan options and provides needed funding for outreach, education, and enrollment assistance, while maintaining key guardrails to protect patients as part of the state waiver process. We urge all members of Congress to support the Alexander-Murray proposal.” [AMA, 10/19/17]
HOSPITALS
Federation Of American Hospitals: “We Encourage Both The House And Senate To Act Swiftly On This Important Legislation Since Enrollment Begins In A Matter Of Days.” “We applaud Senators Alexander and Murray for their leadership in crafting a bipartisan plan that will help millions of working American families keep access to the care they need. Ensuring that federal funds remain available to pay for the subsidization of the cost sharing is vital to keeping premiums in check and coverage available to so many people that depend on this critical program. We encourage both the House and Senate to act swiftly on this important legislation since enrollment begins in a matter of days.” [FAH, 10/18/17]
Catholic Health Association: “We Encourage Members Of The House And Senate In Both Parties To Work Diligently On Behalf Of The American People To Achieve A Bipartisan Solution That Provides The Market Stabilization So Essential To A Functional Health Delivery System.” “This two-year stabilization would give the country time to work on the improvements necessary while protecting millions of Americans, many of whom have finally gotten insurance for the first time. We encourage members of the House and Senate in both parties to work diligently on behalf of the American people to achieve a bipartisan solution that provides the market stabilization so essential to a functional health delivery system. Failure to reach an appropriate solution quickly would be harmful to all Americans, but most especially to the millions who have finally been able to get health insurance and address their health concerns.” [CHA, 10/18/17]
Greater New York Hospital Association: “GNYHA Strongly Supports The Alexander-Murray Agreement.” “The leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), have apparently reached a bipartisan agreement to fund the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments — just days after the Trump Administration announced that CSR funding would be discontinued beginning with payments due on October 18. GNYHA strongly supports the Alexander-Murray agreement.” [Letter to Members, 10/19/17]
ISSUERS
America’s Health Insurance Plans: “This Bill Will Provide American Consumers With A More Stable Insurance Market, States With More Flexibility To Meet The Needs Of Their Citizens, And More Choice And More Affordable Care.” “This bill will provide American consumers with a more stable insurance market, states with more flexibility to meet the needs of their citizens, and more choice and more affordable care. AHIP supports and is encouraged by this bipartisan legislation, and we thank Senators Alexander and Murray for their continued commitment to developing solutions that will help ensure the American people have a pathway to more affordable coverage and health care.” [AHIP, 10/18/17]