Now that Republicans in the House of Representatives released their health care reform bill, everyone is offering their take.
Neil Bradley, the U.S. Chamber's Senior Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, sent a letter to the Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means Committees supporting a number of provisions in it.
For instance, it eliminates (or delays) some harmful taxes from the Affordable Care Act and preserves theemployer-sponsored system millions of Americans rely on.
Here’s the text:
Dear Chairmen Walden and Brady and Ranking Members Pallone and Neal:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports the 2017 House Reconciliation Legislative Recommendations. Critically important provisions in the Recommendations repeal a substantial number of the most harmful provisions in the Affordable Care Act: the health insurance tax, the medical device tax, and the tax on prescription medications; restrictions on the use and limitations on contributions to health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts; and the penalties associated with the employer mandate.
Just as importantly, the Recommendations preserve the longstanding tax treatment of employer sponsored coverage through which 177 million individuals receive their health care coverage. The Chamber is also pleased that the House is proposing to delay the 40 percent Cadillac tax, and we look forward to working with Congress to eventually repeal the tax completely.
These Recommendations and the successful mark-up of the provisions in the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees tomorrow are absolutely critical in taking steps to restore choice, flexibility and innovation to the nation’s health care markets. The Chamber looks forward to working with the House and Senate to refine and advance these and other important reform proposals.
