Fedorchak cosponsors legislation to fix Obamacare's failures with Health Freedom Accounts
Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) joined her colleagues in introducing the More Affordable Care Act (MACA). Led by Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Aaron Bean (R-FL) in the House and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) in the Senate, the legislation focuses on four major reforms.
“The last 15 years are proof: the Democrats’ so-called Affordable Care Act did not achieve its core goal of lowering costs. Instead, families face higher premiums and fewer choices,” Fedorchak said. “The More Affordable Care Act reverses the failures of this broken model by redirecting existing ACA subsidies into Health Freedom Accounts. This will give patients the freedom to shop for coverage, manage their own health care dollars, and make informed decisions that will lower costs.”
Specifically, this legislation:
Creates "Trump Health Freedom Accounts" to put dollars directly in the hands of patients
MACA will redirect federal subsidies currently being sent to insurance companies into new, HSA-style accounts held by individual Americans.
These accounts can be used to pay insurance premiums or other qualified healthcare expenses.
Establishes a "Health Freedom Waiver Program" to expand competition
This program will allow states to opt into a system where health plans can be sold across state lines.
This will increase competition, expand health care options, and incentivize companies to offer fair prices.
Offers stronger small businesses support
MACA expands the small business tax credit to encourage employer-sponsored coverage.
It raises the eligible employee threshold from 25 to 50, removes the $57,000 salary cap, and increases the tax credit to 50% for all qualifying employers.
Codifies price transparency for patients
It will permanently codify President Trump's hospital price transparency order, requiring hospitals to publicly disclose negotiated rates, cash prices, and cost-sharing information.
This will give patients clear and upfront pricing when shopping for high-value care.
“America’s health care system is broken, defined by skyrocketing costs and declining patient outcomes. The Democrats’ Obamacare disaster completely failed to deliver on its core promises, and Republicans must fix it,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The More Affordable Care Act will lower costs, expand consumer choice, and increase transparency for patients. By establishing Health Freedom Accounts and a Health Freedom Waiver Program, we’re putting health care decisions back where they belong: in the hands of American families, not Washington bureaucrats. This legislation will also provide small businesses with critical tax relief to provide employer-sponsored coverage and lock in price transparency for patients. The American people deserve better than throwing more money at a failed system, and this legislation delivers the commonsense solutions they expect."
"We’re putting patients — not bureaucrats or insurance companies — back in charge of their healthcare," said Rep. Bean. "With Trump Health Freedom Accounts, competition across state lines, expanded access to employer-sponsored health insurance, and price transparency, this legislation empowers Americans to make informed healthcare decisions, increases choice and competition, and lowers healthcare costs. This is America First healthcare, and under House Republican leadership, we’re fixing the broken system."
“American families see clearly that Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promises – instead, it created a broken system that screwed over the American people. It’s time to fix it by allowing Americans to be the consumer so they can get care that truly fits their needs and makes health care more affordable. I’m proud to partner with Chairman Pfluger on my More Affordable Care Act that makes commonsense changes that empowers American patients, not the government, to make their own decisions,” said Senator Rick Scott. “We don’t have to replace Obamacare, we keep exchanges, we keep protections for preexisting conditions – but we can add options for families, allowing them to shop across state lines, increasing transparency in health care, and giving any financial support to them directly through HSA-style Trump Health Freedom Accounts so families can choose the care that fits their needs. With more competition, clearer pricing, and allowing Americans, not government, to be the consumer, we can transform Obamacare into a system that gives Americans the freedom to get the care they need."
Full text of the legislation is available here.