(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the House passed three pieces of legislation to expand access to Health Savings Accounts (HSA), lower healthcare premiums, and foster innovation in medical technology. H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act, H.R. 6311, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act, and H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, were all passed by the House and will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
LaMalfa said: “America leads the world in medical technology when it’s allowed to. We should be doing all that we can to support further innovation so patients can utilize the latest advances that come from the innovators in this country. The Affordable Care Act’s misguided medical device tax only stifles the growth of new technology and suppresses the industry’s job market while raising the price tag at the doctor’s office and passing it onto the patient. Healthcare should be more affordable, not even more expensive than it already is. The package of bills we passed this week permanently eliminate the costly medical device tax, modernize Health Savings Accounts so patients can use them more effectively, and allow families the ability to select a lower premium plan that’s right for them. We need policies that drive costs down, provide more healthcare options, and increase access to new, life-saving therapies. That’s what this package of bills seeks to do.”
What the bills do:
- H.R. 6199 – Modernizes HSA rules to improve access for patients, including allowing over-the-counter medicines, feminine products, and certain physical activities to be paid for using HSA dollars.
- H.R. 6311 – Provides more choice by allowing “bronze” and “catastrophic” plans to be eligible for an HSA, provides relief from premium increases by delaying the Affordable Care Act’s tax on health insurers for an additional 2 years, and allows more people to qualify for an HSA account.
- H.R. 184 – permanently repeals the Affordable Care Act’s job and innovation killing 2.3% excise tax on importers and manufacturers of medical devices.
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
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