On 11th Anniversary of ACA, House Committee Holds Hearing on Rep. Schrier’s Bill to Expand Health Care Access for Children
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, on the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on ways to enhance the ACA. And one of the bills that was considered was the Kids' Access to Primary Care Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) to expand access to care by aligning Medicaid rates with Medicare payment rates. This will strengthen the provider network and improve access to care.
"I am thrilled to have my bill, Kids' Access to Primary Care, included in this hearing. In Washington state more than 800,000 children access care through Apple Health, our Medicaid program," said Rep. Schrier. "Across the country, we know the provider network for Medicaid patients is strained. These patients have trouble finding providers who will see them. Shoring up this access to care will help kids grow up healthier, and it will play a vital role in reducing health disparities by reaching underserved populations."
Lower Medicaid payment rates strain the provider network, which can lead to difficulty scheduling appointments and longer waiting periods. Experts agree that higher Medicaid payment rates will increase access to care for Medicaid patients. The Kids' Access to Primary Care Act builds on previous efforts to fix these coverage problems by increasing Medicaid rates to align with Medicare payment rates. It also expands eligibility for the increased payment rates to additional providers, broadening the provider network.
During the hearing, Rep. Schrier asked the witnesses about how we can best drive down the cost of health care and make sure everyone has access to a provider they trust. She noted that "access isn't really access if you can't afford premiums or deductibles" and cited a former patient's family who "looked at their $17,000 premiums compared with the $1,400 they would have spent on healthcare that year without coverage, and simply opted out of insurance - rolling the dice!"
In her remarks, Rep. Schrier highlighted how the temporary provisions in the American Rescue Plan (ARP) cut the costs of premiums by capping them at 8.5% of income. This will mean lower premiums for 75% of people on the Exchange in Washington State.
Rep. Schrier went on to ask a witness whether "making the ARP subsidies permanent would allow for a stronger, more affordable market? And how might that translate to lower healthcare costs overall?" She was told that it will reduce costs and make coverage much more affordable for people.