Hoosier are reacting to the U.S. House passage of the American Health Care Act.  The House voted 217-213 to approve the measure supporters say will improve health care based free market principles, opponents say it will harm the most vulnerable.

The reaction is below…

Jackie Walorski – CD 2

  • “Too many Hoosiers are facing higher premiums, fewer options, and a collapsing system under Obamacare. That’s why I made a promise to the people of Indiana’s 2nd District to repeal Obamacare and replace it with a patient-centered system that lowers costs, provides real protections, and gives individuals and families control over their health care again.  Today the House delivered on that promise to fix our nation’s health care system. The American Health Care Act protects patients with pre-existing conditions, ensures access to quality, affordable health care, and gives states the flexibility they need to enact innovative reforms like those in Indiana.  This bill ends Obamacare’s burdensome taxes and mandates, including a permanent repeal of the job-killing medical device tax that harmed innovative manufacturers and their employees across Indiana. It protects life by stopping the flow of taxpayer dollars to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. And with today’s passage of additional legislation I co-sponsored, it will treat Members of Congress the same as everyone else.  I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get the American Health Care Act to President Trump’s desk for his signature so we can build a health care system that puts patients first.”

Jim Banks – CD 3

  • “While this is not a perfect bill, it is a significant step forward from the failures of Obamacare. This legislation has many important reforms that will benefit Hoosier families. These include permanently repealing the medical device tax, eliminating the individual mandate, opening up new options for states and protecting Americans with pre-existing conditions. Today is an important step in the long process of rolling back Obamacare, enacting free market reforms and improving our country’s health care system.”

Todd Rokita – CD 4

  • “Whether piece by piece, or all at once, I will continue fighting to repeal the insidious Obamacare law because it has hurt so many people. Many, many more than it ever pretended to help. I’m proud to support President Trump and our collective efforts to fix the healthcare system for the American people.  Obamacare is hurting Americans, particularly small businesses and the middle class, by increasing premiums, reducing access to doctors, and creating a one-size-fits-all Washington dictated health care system, it is clear that we need a new direction.  As Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee, I fought to include major reforms to Medicaid by ending the current open-ended system that encourages waste and fraud, and instead gives states the flexibility and authority to run their own programs.  These changes originate from my bill, the State Health Flexibility Act, which gives states complete control and sets funding levels for each year to cover nondisabled, nonelderly adults and children.”

Susan Brooks – CD 5

  • “Today, we kept our promise to the American people. We repealed Obamacare and took the first steps towards achieving more affordable healthcare choices and coverage for Americans with passage of the American Health Care Act in the House,” Brooks said. “There has been some misinformation about what this bill does, and I want to correct the record. Most importantly, this legislation ensures that no one can be denied coverage, including people with pre-existing conditions. In addition, no one, regardless of health status, will be charged higher premiums if they maintain their coverage. Finally, this bill prohibits insurers from rescinding coverage based on a pre-existing condition. This legislation should lower costs for Hoosiers and offers advanceable, refundable tax credits to help people afford healthcare coverage. It will increase competition and choice in the healthcare marketplace, repeal harmful taxes like the medical device tax, eliminate burdensome mandates and the IRS penalty, and put decisions about your healthcare back in your hands. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to put this bill on the President’s desk.”

Luke Messer – CD 6

  • “Today is an exciting day for those of us who have been working and fighting to end Obamacare’s reign over this country. After six years of promises to Hoosiers, we are moving forward to repeal Obamacare and replace it with something far better. This is a step away from more government control of our healthcare and our day-to-day lives, and a return to freedom for all Americans.  Messer said the American Health Care Act aims to drive down health care costs and increase options for Hoosiers, while keeping protections for those with pre-existing conditions.  This bill will make a big difference in the lives of countless Hoosiers who have faced skyrocketing premiums, fewer choices and worse coverage under Obamacare.  Despite the rhetoric, this bill keeps protections for those with pre-existing conditions, which is exactly what we promised we would do.”

Andre Carson – CD 7

  • (Via Twitter) this bill weakens pre-existing condition protections & increases premiums for millions.

Larry Bucshon – CD 8

  • “Obamacare is collapsing and leaving millions of Americans with nowhere to turn as their premiums skyrocket by 25 percent on average and insurers drop out of the market place. Families have been hit with higher costs and limited choice under this government-mandated, one-size-fits-all system. It would be irresponsible for us to not act to provide them relief.  “Today’s vote moves us forward on the path to repealing and replacing Obamacare. The American Health Care Act puts patients back in charge of their healthcare decisions, helps drive down costs and expand access to care for everyone, and maintains critical patient protections like coverage for preexisting conditions. Thanks to President Trump, Vice President Pence, and my colleagues in the House for their hard work on this bill that fulfills the promises we made to the American people.”

Doug Leonard, President, Indiana Hospital Association

  • “Today, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) which would make major changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Despite significant flaws in the ACA, more than 450,000 Hoosiers gained health coverage under the law. As this bill moves forward to the US Senate, we urge Congress to protect those individuals by maintaining their pathways to meaningful coverage. IHA will continue to assess the full impact of the bill on Indiana, particularly with respect to enrollment in the health insurance exchange and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) 2.0. There has been bipartisan support for HIP since its inception a decade ago, and it demonstrates that states can successfully extend coverage in an innovative and fiscally responsible manner. Giving states much-needed flexibility will allow new models like HIP to succeed and improve patients’ outcomes, but adequate funding for these coverage programs must be sustained.”