TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
The National Coalition on Benefits (NCB) applauds y our successful bipartisan efforts to address the opioids crisis devastating communities across the country. As you work to resolve differences and reach agreement on a final legislat ive package, the NCB reiterates its strong opposition to the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) pr ovision in the House-passed version of the bill.
By extending the amount of time that employer-spons ored plans must cover treatments for ESRD by three months, the House provision would massively shift costs from the government to employers and workers. This change wi ll likely threaten the affordability of health benefits that 181 million Americans enjoy, a nd counteracts employer efforts to reduce coverage costs. Changes to ESRD and Medicare Second ary Payer rules lead to higher costs for plan sponsors, which translate directly to higher h ealth insurance costs for workers, their families, and retirees. The House ESRD provision wi ll not help address the opioids crisis, will cost employers hundreds of millions of dollars, and should be omitted from the final legislative product.
The NCB is comprised of trade associations represen ting large and small businesses, as well as employers with operations and employees in all 50 states. We have long supported legislation to ensure that all Americans have acces s to affordable health coverage. NCB looks forward to working with Congress as you consider pr oposals to advance our shared goals and objectives for the U.S. health care system: lower c osts, improved access, greater transparency, and higher quality.
Sincerely,
The National Coalition on Benefits
