2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The FY 2020 Minibus Appropriations Bill,
Which Repealed The Cadillac Tax. In December 2019, Fitzpatrick voted
for the FY 2020 minibus spending bill, which represented 8 of the 12
appropriations bills. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill
permanently repeals three major health industry taxes that were imposed
under the 2010 healthcare overhaul to help pay for Obamacare.
Specifically, it repeals the so-called 'Cadillac Tax' on expensive
employer-provided health insurance plans provided by wealthy companies
and major labor unions, and also repeals a 2.3% tax on medical devices
and an annual health insurance fee." The vote was a motion to concur in
the Senate amendment. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of
297-120. The Senate later passed the bill and the President signed the
bill into law. [House Vote 689,
12/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/17/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.1865]
CBO: The Repeal Of The Cadillac Tax Would Cost $377 Billion In
Lost Revenue Over Ten Years. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"The Cadillac tax in particular was intended both to pay for
Obamacare and to help 'bend the cost curve' of spiraling healthcare
costs by encouraging individuals to insist on lower cost plans. CBO
estimates the repeals would cost $377 billion in lost revenue over
ten years." [Congressional Quarterly,
12/17/19]
Politico: Repealing The Cadillac Tax "All But Guts The Funding
Provisions" For The ACA. According to Politico, "Congress
preserved a moratorium on the 'Cadillac' tax until 2022 [...] The
move all but guts the funding provisions for the Affordable Care
Act, with the Cadillac tax repeal alone projected to cost nearly
$200 billion." [Politico,
12/16/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Repealing The "Cadillac Tax". In July
2019, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "repeal the 40 percent excise tax, known as the
'Cadillac tax' on the incremental costs of employer-sponsored health
care plans above certain thresholds. The tax was imposed by the 2010
health care overhaul and is currently set to take effect at the
beginning of 2022." The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 419-6.
[House Vote 493,
7/17/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/17/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
748]
The Cadillac Tax Was Enacted As A Key Way TO Pay For The
Affordable Care Act. According to Congressional Quarterly, the
bill "Would permanently repeal the 40 percent excise tax on
high-cost employer-provided health insurance, which was envisioned
as a key way to pay for the 2010 health care law." [Congressional
Quarterly, 12/16/19]
Congressional Quarterly: Without Offsets To Pay for The Repeal, It
Could Cost $1 Trillion By The 2030s, Which "Makes Health Economists
Shudder." According to Congressional Quarterly, "the prospect of
repeal, especially without offsets to pay for it, makes health
economists shudder. The Congressional Budget Office projected in May
that rolling back the excise tax would cost $193 billion between
2019 and 2029. Paul Van de Water, a senior fellow at the Center on
Budget and Policy Priorities, wrote this week that could reach $1
trillion in the 2030s." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/12/19]
Congressional Quarterly: The Repeal Was A "Top Priority For The
Insurance Industry." According to Congressional Quarterly,
"There's bipartisan support in both the House and Senate for its
repeal and it has been a top priority for the insurance industry and
labor unions." [Congressional Quarterly,
7/12/19]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For A $100 Billion Tax Bill That Delayed ACA
Taxes, Included Tax Relief For Disaster Victims And Offered Fixes For
The 2017 Tax Reform Bill. In December 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for
legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"provide[d] tax relief to individuals and businesses who have been
harmed by certain natural disasters during 2018 and [...] [made] it
easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans for their
employees while also giving individuals greater flexibility to
contribute to and use funds from their retirement accounts. It also
allow[ed] churches and other non-profits to become politically active
while maintaining their tax-exempt status; delay[ed] or repeal[ed]
four taxes created by the 2010 health care overhaul to finance that law;
[made] certain modifications and technical corrections to the 2017 tax
overhaul; and modernize[d] the IRS to improve customer service and
help prevent identity theft and tax return fraud." The vote was on a
motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a further House amendment.
The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of
220 to 183. The bill died in the Senate. [House Vote 470,
12/20/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/19/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
88]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 8 And Delayed The Cadillac Tax For Two
Years. In January 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that would
have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding for
federal government operations and services at current levels through
Feb. 8, 2018. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state Children's
Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually starting in
fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding annually through
fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly,
"The bill also suspends or delays for one or two years three
health-related taxes that were enacted as part of the 2010 health care
overhaul to help finance the law --- the medical device tax, the tax on
high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans (the so-called
'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees on health insurance companies." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 266 to 150.
The Senate had already agreed to the version of the bill. President
Trump later signed it into law. [House Vote 44,
1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/22/18; CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 16 And Delayed The Cadillac Tax For Two
Years, But Did Not Offer Any Fixes For DACA Recipients. In January
2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding for federal government
operations and services at current levels through Feb. 16, 2018, at an
annualized rate of $1.23 trillion for federal departments and agencies
covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills, of which an
annualized rate of $621.5 billion would be designated for defense and
an annualized rate of $511 billion for nondefense discretionary
spending. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state Children's
Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually starting in
fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding annually through
fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly,
"The bill suspends or delays three health-related taxes that were
enacted as part of the 2010 health care overhaul to help finance the law
--- the medical device tax, the tax on high-value employer-sponsored
health insurance plans (the so-called 'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees
on health insurance companies." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 197. The Senate later blocked the
bill, shutting down the government for three days. A revised version of
the legislation, funding the government through February 8th was later
signed into law. [House Vote 33,
1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/17/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/18;
CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Health Care Act That
Would Have In Part Repealed Cost-Sharing Subsidies In 2020. In May
2017, Fitzpatrick voted against the American Health Care Act which would
have significantly repealed portions of the Affordable Care Act by
cutting Medicaid, cutting taxes on the rich, removing safeguard for
pre-existing conditions and defunding Planned Parenthood. According to
the Kaiser Family Foundation, "ACA cost sharing subsidies are repealed
effective January 1, 2020." The overall legislation would have in part
"ma[d]e extensive changes to the 2010 health care overhaul law, by
effectively repealing the individual and employer mandates as well as
most of the taxes that finance the current system. It would [have], in
2020, convert[ed] Medicaid into a capped entitlement that would
provide[d] fixed federal payments to states and end[ed] additional
federal funding for the 2010 law's joint federal-state Medicaid
expansion. It would prohibit federal funding to any entity, such as
Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions and receives more than $350
million a year in Medicaid funds. [...] It would [have] allow[ed]
states to receive waivers to exempt insurers from having to provide
certain minimum benefits." The vote was on passage. The House passed the
bill by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill, in modified forms, died in the
Senate. [House Vote 256,
5/4/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/4/17; Kaiser Family
Foundation,
5/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1628]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For Strengthening The ACA By Expanding Access
To Health Insurance And Medicaid. In June 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "include a number of provisions to
expand enrollment in and reduce consumer costs for state- and
federally-operated Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplaces;
incentivize Medicaid expansion by states; and authorize maximum price
negotiations for prescription drugs under Medicare. Title I of the bill
would expand eligibility for federal tax subsidies toward insurance
premiums and increase the percentage of premiums such subsidies would
cover. It would provide $10 billion annually beginning in fiscal 2022
to help states lower costs of ACA plans, including to provide
reinsurance payments to health insurance issuers and subsidies to
individuals. It would provide $200 million for grants to states to
establish and operate state-based ACA health insurance marketplaces;
$100 million annually for Health and Human Services Department consumer
outreach related to ACA marketplace plans; $100 million annually for
the HHS "navigator" program, which helps individuals enroll in
qualified plans; and $200 million annually through fiscal 2024 for
grants to states to encourage plan enrollment. It would also prohibit
implementation of August 2018 regulations related to health insurance
plans that are not required to meet ACA patient protection requirements,
including short-term, limited-duration plans. Title II of the bill would
provide for full federal reimbursement of state Medicaid expansion costs
for new enrollees for three years, then gradually decrease the federal
medical assistance cost-share to 90% for those enrollees." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 234-179. [House Vote
124, 6/29/20;
Congressional Quarterly,
6/29/20; Congressional Actions,
H.R.1425]
The Bill Expanded ACA Eligibility, Incentivized States To Expand
Medicaid, And Allowed Medicare To Negotiate Drug Prices. According
to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would make more people
eligible for federal financial assistance to purchase health
insurance, incentivize states to expand Medicaid eligibility and
allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. It is not expected to be
taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/29/20]
The Bill Reduced Federal Funding For The 14 States Who Have Not
Expanded Medicaid. According to the Washington Post, "The
legislation would place financial pressure on states that have not
expanded Medicaid [...] The ACA originally expanded Medicaid
nationwide, but a 2012 Supreme Court ruling, in which justices
upheld the law's constitutionality, gave each state the choice of
whether to expand Medicaid. For 14 states that have not expanded the
program, the bill would reduce federal funding for traditional
Medicaid. It would also add an inducement, paying for the entire
initial cost of an expansion --- as the law did when expansions
first were allowed in 2014." [Washington Post,
6/29/20]
By Eliminating The 400 Percent Threshold, The Bill Mandated That
No One Would Be Required To Pay More Than 8.5% Of Their Income On
Popular Marketplace Health Plans. According to the Washington
Post, "Under [the ACA], federal insurance marketplaces and similar
state ones opened in 2014 for individuals and families who cannot
get affordable health benefits through a job. The law provides
federal subsidies for insurance premiums for those with incomes up
to 400 percent of the federal poverty level --- about $51,000 for
an individual and nearly $105,000 for a family of four. The bill
would eliminate the 400 percent threshold, saying for the first time
that no one would be required to pay more than 8.5 percent of their
income on the most popular tier of marketplace health plans."
[Washington Post,
6/29/20]
The Bill Included A Long-Sought After Provision For Democrats
Allowing Federal Health Officials To Negotiate The Price Of Drugs
Under Medicare. According to the Washington Post, "The bill also
includes a longtime Democratic goal of allowing federal health
officials to negotiate the price of drugs under Medicare, the vast
federal insurance program for older and disabled Americans. Trump
used to support that idea but turned against it." [Washington Post,
6/29/20]
CBO: The Bill Would Reduce Deficits And Spending In Future Decades
And Increase The Number Of Insured Americans By 4 Million.
According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB),
"According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the coverage
provisions would cost $586 billion over a decade while the drug
provisions would save $582 billion and interactions would save $23
billion. Overall, the bill would be fully paid for over a decade
($18 billion of net deficit reduction) and would likely reduce
deficits and spending in future decades. CBO estimates the bill
would reduce the number of uninsured by 4 million people per year
and reduce pre-subsidy (but post-reinsurance) non group premiums by
about 10 percent." [CRFB,
6/29/20]
Democrats Passed The Health Care Bill Days After The Trump
Administration Asked The Supreme Court To Rule The Law
Unconstitutional. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The House
passed, 234-179, on Monday legislation to enhance the 2010 health
care law, days after the Trump administration asked the Supreme
Court to scrap it [...] Democrats hope to contrast their plans to
expand the health care law with the administration's efforts to
overturn the law ahead of the November election, in which health
care is expected to be a top issue for voters." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/29/20]
Democrats Emphasized The Importance Of Health Care Access During
The COVID-19 Pandemic. According to Congressional Quarterly,
"Democrats also have sought to underscore the significance of the
law during the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has sickened
millions and led to millions of job losses. As some Americans lost
their jobs, they also lost their employer-sponsored health
insurance. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a
report last week that found about 487,000 consumers signed up for a
marketplace plan during a special enrollment period after losing
their workplace coverage this year, an increase of 46 percent
compared to the same time period last year." [Congressional
Quarterly, 6/29/20]
Republicans Opposed The Partisan Nature Of The Bill And Stated
That The Drug Pricing Conditions Would Make It Harder To Develop New
Treatments. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republicans
argued that Democrats should instead work on a bipartisan fashion to
improve the health care system. They said the drug pricing
conditions in the measure would make it more difficult to develop
new cures and treatments, which are needed even more with the new
coronavirus." [Congressional Quarterly,
6/29/20]
Both Senate Republicans And The White House Opposed The Bill,
Making It Nearly Impossible For The Bill To Become Law. According
to the Washington Post, "The 234-179 vote, almost entirely along
party lines, was a hollow exercise in terms of any chance the bill
would become law and reshape federal health policy. Moments after
the debate began, the White House announced the president would veto
the legislation if it reached his desk, though a wall of Senate
Republican opposition to the measure makes that a moot point."
[Washington Post,
6/29/20]
2022: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Extending Tax Subsidies Toward
Affordable Care Act Insurance Premiums For Eligible Individuals Through
2025. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly,
Fitzpatrick voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would "extend through 2025 tax
subsidies toward Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance premiums for
individuals under a certain income level." The vote was on a motion to
concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the
bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden
signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420,
8/12/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 8/12/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
5376]
The Inflation Reduction Act Included $64 Billion To Prevent
Health Insurance Premium Increases For Approximately 13 Million
Americans Who Purchased Policies Through The Affordable Care Act
Marketplace. According to The Washington Post, "The bill also
includes $64 billion to stave off health insurance premium
increases for about 13 million Americans who buy coverage through
state and federal exchanges under the Affordable Care Act." [The
Washington Post,
8/7/22]
Individuals Covered Under The Affordable Care Act Received A
Discounted Price Under A Coronavirus-Era Program, Which Was Expected
To Expire In Late 2022. According to The Washington Post, "These
beneficiaries currently receive discounted coverage under a
coronavirus-era program set to expire this year, threatening them
with premium increases into hundreds of dollars next month." [The
Washington Post,
8/7/22]
The Inflation Reduction Act Provided A Three-Year Extension On
Federal Health Care Subsidies In The Affordable Care Act, Which
Retained Premiums At $10 Per Month Or Less For The Majority Of The
People Covered By The ACA. According to NPR, "There's also a
three-year extension on healthcare subsidies in the Affordable Care
Act originally passed in a pandemic relief bill last year, estimated
by the government to have kept premiums at $10 per month or lower
for the vast majority of people covered through the federal health
insurance exchange. That helps millions of Americans avoid spikes in
their health care costs." [NPR,
8/7/22]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Extending Expanded Eligibility For Tax
Credits Through 2025 For Affordable Care Act Marketplace Insurance
Premiums. In November 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the Build Back
Better act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "establish
or extend expanded eligibility for certain tax credits toward Affordable
Care Act marketplace insurance premiums through 2025." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-213. [House Vote
385, 11/19/21;
Congressional Quarterly,
11/19/21; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
5376]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Act Of 2021,
Which Expanded Eligibility For Insurance Premium Tax Subsidies In 2021
And 2022, Including Covering Premium Costs For People Earning Up To 150%
Above The Federal Poverty Level And Capping Premiums At 8.5% Of
Household Income. In March 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against concurring
in the Senate amendment to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which
would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand eligibility in 2021
and 2022 for federal tax subsidies toward Affordable Care Act
marketplace insurance premiums, including to fully cover premium costs
for individuals earning up to 150% of the federal poverty level and cap
premiums at 8.5% of household income." The vote was on concurring in the
Senate amendment to the bill. The House concurred with the Senate by a
vote of 220-211 and sent to the President and ultimately the bill became
law. [House Vote 72,
3/10/21; Congressional
Quarterly, 3/10/21;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1319]
The American Rescue Plan Expanded Eligibility For Federal
Subsidies To Purchases Health Insurance Through The Affordable Care
Act, Which Was A Controversial Provision For Republicans Who Opposed
The Legislation. According to CBS News, "The measure expands
eligibility for subsidies to purchase health insurance to people of
all incomes under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a provision that
was particularly controversial for Republicans who oppose the bill."
[CBS News,
3/12/21]
The American Rescue Plan Modified Health Insurance Tax Credit
Formulas To Make Them More Affordable For Most Individuals, And Also
Expanded The Pool Of People Who Would Qualify. According to AP via
CBS News, "The bill would change the formulas for health insurance
tax credits to make them more generous for most people, and also
allow a wider number of individuals to qualify." [AP via CBS News,
3/9/21]
The American Rescue Plan Expanded Health Insurance Tax Credits To
Middle-Class People Who Usually Do Not Qualify For Premium
Assistance, Including Self-Employed Individuals And Business Owners
Who Did Not Qualify For ACA Benefits But Were Hit With Higher
Premiums. According to AP via CBS News, "In a politically
significant change, the bill would provide health insurance tax
credits to people with solid middle-class incomes who don't now
qualify for help with their premiums. That's a demographic that
includes many self-employed people and business owners who were hit
with higher premiums as a result of the ACA, but cut out of the
benefits." [AP via CBS News,
3/9/21]
The American Rescue Plan Permitted Individuals Who Have Collected
Unemployment Checks To Qualify For Affordable Care Act Tax Credits
And Reductions In Copays And Deductibles. According to AP via CBS
News, "Another inducement is aimed at people who have lost jobs.
Those who collect unemployment this year, if even for one week,
would qualify for the most generous ACA tax credits as well as its
biggest reductions in copays and deductibles." [AP via CBS News,
3/9/21]
Republicans Argued That The Health Insurance Provisions In The
American Rescue Plan Were An Overreach By Democrats That Were
Unrelated To The COVID Pandemic. According to AP via CBS News,
"Republicans cite the health insurance provisions as an example of
coronavirus overreach by Democrats." [AP via CBS News,
3/9/21]
The American Rescue Plan Made Individuals Earning Under 150% Of
The Federal Poverty Line Eligible For Full Coverage Of Premiums,
People Earning 150% To 400% Above Were Eligible For Lower Cost
Premiums, And People Making Over 400% Were Eligible For Tax Credits
And Capped Premiums At 8.5% Of Income. According to Health Law,
"Individuals earning less than 150% FPL will be eligible for a
health insurance plan with $0 premiums. Individuals between
150-400% FPL will benefit from lower required contributions to their
premiums. And for the first time, individuals over 400% FPL will be
eligible for tax credits and their premium contributions would be
capped at 8.5% of income. These changes last for two years as
follows." [Health Law,
3/12/21]
The American Rescue Plan Permitted Individuals Who Received
Unemployment Insurance In 2021 To Obtain Marketplace Coverage,
Including People Living In A Medicaid Non-Expansion State, And Many
People Received Free Coverage. According to Health Law,
"individuals who received unemployment insurance in 2021 can get
marketplace coverage even if they live in a Medicaid non-expansion
state (which would usually prevent eligibility). For many of these
individuals, the cost would be zero." [Health Law,
3/12/21]
The American Rescue Plan Waived Requirements To Pay Any Excess Tax
Credits For Those Who Received Advanced Premium Tax Credits In
2020. According to Health Law, "Anyone receiving APTCs in tax year
2020 will not have to pay back any excess tax credits received. The
provision recognizes that the economic challenges of the pandemic
makes it extremely difficult for many families to pay an unexpected
tax bill. Individuals who already filed their 2020 taxes will have
to wait to see how the IRS will refund those payments." [Health
Law,
3/12/21]
2021: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Rescue Plan Of 2021,
Which Would Expand Eligibility For Federal Tax Subsidies In 2021 And
2022 For Marketplace Insurance Premiums, Including Coverage For Those
Earning 150% Above The Poverty Level And Capping Premiums At 8.5%. In
February 2021, Fitzpatrick voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "expand
eligibility in 2021 and 2022 for federal tax subsidies toward Affordable
Care Act marketplace insurance premiums, including to fully cover
premium costs for individuals earning up to 150% of the federal poverty
level and cap premiums at 8.5% of household income." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 219-212, sent to the
Senate and President, and the Senate version ultimately became law.
[House Vote 49, 2/27/21;
Congressional Quarterly,
2/27/21; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
1319]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For A $100 Billion Tax Bill That Delayed ACA
Taxes, Included Tax Relief For Disaster Victims And Offered Fixes For
The 2017 Tax Reform Bill. In December 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for
legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"provide[d] tax relief to individuals and businesses who have been
harmed by certain natural disasters during 2018 and [...] [made] it
easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans for their
employees while also giving individuals greater flexibility to
contribute to and use funds from their retirement accounts. It also
allow[ed] churches and other non-profits to become politically active
while maintaining their tax-exempt status; delay[ed] or repeal[ed]
four taxes created by the 2010 health care overhaul to finance that law;
[made] certain modifications and technical corrections to the 2017 tax
overhaul; and modernize[d] the IRS to improve customer service and
help prevent identity theft and tax return fraud." The vote was on a
motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a further House amendment.
The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of
220 to 183. The bill died in the Senate. [House Vote 470,
12/20/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/19/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
88]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 8 And Delayed The Health Insurance Fee
For One Year. In January 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that
would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding
for federal government operations and services at current levels through
Feb. 8, 2018. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state Children's
Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually starting in
fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding annually through
fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly,
"The bill also suspends or delays for one or two years three
health-related taxes that were enacted as part of the 2010 health care
overhaul to help finance the law --- the medical device tax, the tax on
high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans (the so-called
'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees on health insurance companies." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 266 to 150.
The Senate had already agreed to the version of the bill. President
Trump later signed it into law. [House Vote 44,
1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/22/18; CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 16 And Delayed The Health Insurance Fee
For One Year, But Did Not Offer Any Fixes For DACA Recipients. In
January 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that would have,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding for federal
government operations and services at current levels through Feb. 16,
2018, at an annualized rate of $1.23 trillion for federal departments
and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills, of
which an annualized rate of $621.5 billion would be designated for
defense and an annualized rate of $511 billion for nondefense
discretionary spending. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state
Children's Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually
starting in fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding
annually through fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to
Congressional Quarterly, "The bill suspends or delays three
health-related taxes that were enacted as part of the 2010 health care
overhaul to help finance the law --- the medical device tax, the tax on
high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans (the so-called
'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees on health insurance companies." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 197.
The Senate later blocked the bill, shutting down the government for
three days. A revised version of the legislation, funding the government
through February 8th was later signed into law. [House Vote 33,
1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/17/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/18;
CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted Against Prohibiting Washington, D.C. From
Using Funds To Enforce Its Own Individual Mandate. In July 2018,
Fitzpatrick voted against an amendment that would have, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit[ed] the District of Columbia from
using funds appropriated by the bill to enforce certain health insurance
requirements." The underlying bill was an FY 2019 Interior, Environment
and Financial Services appropriations bill. The House adopted the
amendment by a vote of 226 to 189. The House later passed the underlying
bill. A conference committee was later created, but no bill was agreed
upon by both chambers. [House Vote 359,
7/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/18/18; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
946;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
6174]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For A $100 Billion Tax Bill That Delayed ACA
Taxes, Included Tax Relief For Disaster Victims And Offered Fixes For
The 2017 Tax Reform Bill. In December 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for
legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"provide[d] tax relief to individuals and businesses who have been
harmed by certain natural disasters during 2018 and [...] [made] it
easier for small businesses to offer retirement savings plans for their
employees while also giving individuals greater flexibility to
contribute to and use funds from their retirement accounts. It also
allow[ed] churches and other non-profits to become politically active
while maintaining their tax-exempt status; delay[ed] or repeal[ed]
four taxes created by the 2010 health care overhaul to finance that law;
[made] certain modifications and technical corrections to the 2017 tax
overhaul; and modernize[d] the IRS to improve customer service and
help prevent identity theft and tax return fraud." The vote was on a
motion to concur in the Senate amendment with a further House amendment.
The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of
220 to 183. The bill died in the Senate. [House Vote 470,
12/20/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/19/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
88]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted To Repeal The Medical Device Tax Starting In
2020. In July 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would have,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "fully repeal[ed] the 2.3
percent excise tax on the sale of a medical device by the manufacturer,
producer, or importer after Dec. 31, 2019." The vote was on passage. The
House passed the bill by a vote of 283 to 132. The Senate took no
substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 372,
7/24/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/24/18; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
184]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 8 And Delayed The Medical Device Tax For
Two Years. In January 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that
would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding
for federal government operations and services at current levels through
Feb. 8, 2018. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state Children's
Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually starting in
fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding annually through
fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly,
"The bill also suspends or delays for one or two years three
health-related taxes that were enacted as part of the 2010 health care
overhaul to help finance the law --- the medical device tax, the tax on
high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans (the so-called
'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees on health insurance companies." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 266 to 150.
The Senate had already agreed to the version of the bill. President
Trump later signed it into law. [House Vote 44,
1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/22/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/22/18; CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For An FY 2018 Continuing Resolution Funding
The Government Through February 16 And Delayed The Medical Device Tax
For Two Years, But Did Not Offer Any Fixes For DACA Recipients. In
January 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for legislation that would have,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide[d] funding for federal
government operations and services at current levels through Feb. 16,
2018, at an annualized rate of $1.23 trillion for federal departments
and agencies covered by the 12 unfinished fiscal 2018 spending bills, of
which an annualized rate of $621.5 billion would be designated for
defense and an annualized rate of $511 billion for nondefense
discretionary spending. The measure would [have] fund[ed] the state
Children's Health and Insurance Programs at $21.5 billion annually
starting in fiscal 2018 and would gradually increase the funding
annually through fiscal 2023." In addition, also according to
Congressional Quarterly, "The bill suspends or delays three
health-related taxes that were enacted as part of the 2010 health care
overhaul to help finance the law --- the medical device tax, the tax on
high-value employer-sponsored health insurance plans (the so-called
'Cadillac' tax), and annual fees on health insurance companies." The
vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 197.
The Senate later blocked the bill, shutting down the government for
three days. A revised version of the legislation, funding the government
through February 8th was later signed into law. [House Vote 33,
1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/18/18; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/17/18;
Congressional Quarterly, 1/22/18;
CBS,
1/23/18;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
195]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Health Care Act That
Would Have In Part Repealed The Medical Device Tax. In May 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted against the American Health Care Act which would have
significantly repealed portions of the Affordable Care Act by cutting
Medicaid, cutting taxes on the rich, removing safeguard for pre-existing
conditions and defunding Planned Parenthood. According to the Kasier
Family Foundation, the legislation had the "ACA taxes repealed,
effective January 1, 2017, except where otherwise noted: [...] [The]
Excise tax on sale of medical devices." The overall legislation would
have in part "ma[d]e extensive changes to the 2010 health care
overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and employer
mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current system.
It would [have], in 2020, convert[ed] Medicaid into a capped
entitlement that would provide[d] fixed federal payments to states and
end[ed] additional federal funding for the 2010 law's joint
federal-state Medicaid expansion. It would prohibit federal funding to
any entity, such as Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions and
receives more than $350 million a year in Medicaid funds. [...] It
would [have] allow[ed] states to receive waivers to exempt insurers
from having to provide certain minimum benefits." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill, in
modified forms, died in the Senate. [House Vote 256,
5/4/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/4/17; Kaiser Family
Foundation,
5/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1628]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted Against An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus
That Would Have Cut Funding To Health Insurance Navigators To Help
Eligible Consumers Enroll In Medicaid. In June 2019, Fitzpatrick voted
against a bill that would, according to Congressional Quarterly, "strike
from the bill the requirement that the Health and Human Services
secretary obligate $100 million in fiscal 2020 for a health insurance
marketplace navigator program, including specified obligation for
advertising." The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House
rejected the amendment by a vote of 186-237. [House Vote 284,
6/13/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/19;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
301;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Health Care Legislation That Was Designed
To Bring More Generic Drugs To The Marketplace, Restore Funding To
Promote ACA Plans, Fund States To Create Their Own State-Based ACA
Exchanges, And Stop A Trump Administration Rule Increasing Eligibility
For Short-Term Insurance Plans That Do Not Comply With ACA Rules, Such
As Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions. In May 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted for the MORE Health Education Act. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "[t]his bill includes a number of provisions intended to
lower the price of prescription drugs by helping to bring generic and
biosimilar drugs to market more quickly, and it seeks to bolster
enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplaces by restoring funding to
promote ACA health plans and help individuals find affordable plans
while also providing funding for states to establish their own
state-operated health insurance marketplaces (rather than relying on the
existing federal marketplace). In addition, it revokes a Trump
administration rule that expands the availability of short-term health
plans that don't have to comply with ACA consumer protections, such as
protections for individuals with preexisting conditions." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 183. [House
Vote 214, 5/16/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/10/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
987]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prevent HHS And Treasury From Doing
Anything That Would Make Health Care Premiums More Expensive For Health
Insurance As Comprehensive As The ACA's With Essential Health
Benefits. In May 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for an amendment that would
have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit[ed] the Health
and Human Services and Treasury departments from taking any action that
would result in increased health insurance premiums for individuals
enrolled in health insurance at least as comprehensive as the
"essential health benefits package" defined under the 2010 health care
law." The underlying legislation would have, also according to
Congressional Quarterly, "require[d] the Trump administration to
rescind a 2018 guidance that made it easier for states to change their
individual insurance markets and bypass the 2010 health care law.
[...] In October, the administration released a guidance to give
states more flexibility by exempting them from some of the waiver
requirements. The administration later suggested ways states could
change their insurance markets, including revising the rules for
consumers to qualify for premium subsidies, allowing those subsidies to
go toward plans that don't comply with all of the 2010 law's regulations
or setting up high-risk pools or reinsurance programs to help cover the
most expensive patients." The vote was on the amendment. The House
passed the amendment by a vote of 308 to 112. The House later passed the
underlying bill. [House Vote 194,
5/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/9/19; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
208;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
986]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Health Care Legislation That Was Designed
To Bring More Generic Drugs To The Marketplace, Restore Funding To
Promote ACA Plans, Fund States To Create Their Own State-Based ACA
Exchanges, And Stop A Trump Administration Rule Increasing Eligibility
For Short-Term Insurance Plans That Do Not Comply With ACA Rules, Such
As Protections For Pre-Existing Conditions. In May 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted for the MORE Health Education Act. According to Congressional
Quarterly, "[t]his bill includes a number of provisions intended to
lower the price of prescription drugs by helping to bring generic and
biosimilar drugs to market more quickly, and it seeks to bolster
enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplaces by restoring funding to
promote ACA health plans and help individuals find affordable plans
while also providing funding for states to establish their own
state-operated health insurance marketplaces (rather than relying on the
existing federal marketplace). In addition, it revokes a Trump
administration rule that expands the availability of short-term health
plans that don't have to comply with ACA consumer protections, such as
protections for individuals with preexisting conditions." The vote was
on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 234 to 183. [House
Vote 214, 5/16/19;
Congressional Quarterly,
5/10/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
987]
The Trump Administration Has Significantly Cut Funding For ACA
Navigators -- Individuals Who Would Help People Find ACA Coverage;
The Legislation Appropriated $100 Million Per Year For
Navigators. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Starting in
2017, as part of an effort to dismantle and replace the ACA, the
Trump administration reduced funding for the navigators and
shortened the amount of time the health insurance exchanges were
open for annual enrollment and re-enrollment. The administration
also reduced advertising of the open enrollment period. That funding
was further reduced in 2018, with $10 million being provided for
navigators (versus $63 million in 2016) and $10 million for public
education and outreach (versus $100 million in 2016). The bill
provides $100 million per year for the ACA navigator program,
starting FY 2020 (with the funds to be obligated from amounts
collected through the user fees from participating health insurance
providers), and it appropriates $100 million a year for consumer
outreach and education activities." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/10/19]
Funding For States To Set Up Their Own ACA Exchanges Expired In
2014; The Legislation Would Give Grants Through 2022. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "The bill appropriates $200 million to
allow states to establish their own state-based health insurance
exchanges (prior federal funding under the ACA for states to
establish their own exchanges ended after 2014). The funding would
be provided to states in the form of grants for a period of two
years; grants could not be renewed, and no grant could be awarded
after Dec. 31, 2022. Grants can only be made to states that do not
yet have a state-based exchange, and states must ensure that
exchanges are self-sustaining starting Jan. 1, 2024. State-based
exchanges could charge assessments or user fees to participating
health insurance issuers (currently, health insurers offering plans
through an exchange are charged a user fee of 3% on state exchanges
and 3.5% on the federal exchange)." [Congressional Quarterly,
5/10/19]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For Restoring Funding For ACA Marketplace
Promotion, Funding For States To Create State-Based Exchanges, And
Stopping A Trump Rule That Allows People To Get Junk Short-Term
Insurance That Does Not Include ACA Requirements Such As Pre-Existing
Conditions Protections. In May 2019, Fitzpatrick voted against an
amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"remove[d] from the bill Title II, which contains several provisions
that would facilitate enrollment in and support Affordable Care Act
health insurance marketplaces." Also according to Congressional
Quarterly, "[t]he bill includes a number of provisions that seek to
bolster enrollment in Affordable Care Act marketplaces by restoring
funding to promote ACA health plans and help individuals find affordable
health care plans, while also providing funding for states to establish
their own state-operated health insurance marketplaces (rather than
relying on the existing federal marketplace). It also revokes a Trump
administration rule that expands the availability of short-term health
plans that don't have to comply with ACA consumer protections, such as
protections for individuals with preexisting conditions. Increasing the
number of individuals who purchase ACA-compliant plans through the ACA's
state exchanges would broaden the insurance risk pool and help reduce
the cost of ACA health insurance." The underlying legislation included
provisions designed to lower prescription drugs and shored up the ACA.
The vote was on the amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a
vote of 189 to 230. [House Vote 210,
5/16/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/16/19; Congressional
Quarterly,
5/10/19;
Congressional Actions, H. Amdt.
221;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
987]
2020: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment To The Six-Bill FY 2021
Appropriations Package That Prevented The Justice Department From
Bringing Suit Against The ACA. In July 2020, Fitzpatrick voted for an
amendment to the FY 2021 six-bill appropriations package that would,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the use of funds
provided by the bill for the Justice Department to argue in any
litigation that the provisions of the 2010 health care law and certain
related provisions are unconstitutional or invalid on any grounds." The
vote was on adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of
234-181. [House Vote 175,
7/30/20; Congressional
Quarterly, 7/30/20;
Congressional Quarterly,
H.Amdt.865;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.7617]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prohibit The Justice Department To
Challenge The Constitutionality Of The ACA. In June 2019, Fitzpatrick
voted for an amendment that would, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"prohibit the use of funds provided by the bill for the Justice
Department to argue that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
is unconstitutional or invalid in any litigation to which the U.S. is a
party." The vote was on adoption. The House adopted the amendment by a
vote of 238-194. [House Vote 374,
6/20/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/18/19;
Congressional Actions,
H.Amdt.424;
Congressional Actions,
H.R.3055]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2018 Congressional Progressive
Caucus's Budget Resolution, Which Among Other Things, Increased Taxes On
The Rich And Corporations And Called For Creating A Public Option In The
ACA's Marketplace. In October 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against an FY
2018 CPC budget resolution. According to Congressional Quarterly, the
resolution would "provide for $3.8 trillion in new budget authority in
fiscal 2018, not including off-budget accounts. It would raise overall
spending by $3.5 trillion over 10 years and would increase revenues by
$8.2 trillion over the same period through policies that would increase
taxes for corporations and high-income individuals. It would repeal the
Budget Control Act sequester and caps on discretionary spending, would
modify the tax code by adding five higher marginal tax rates, would
create a public insurance option to be sold within the current health
insurance exchanges and would call for implementation of comprehensive
immigration overhaul." The amendment was a substitute amendment for the
GOP's FY 2018 budget resolution in part designed to start the process
for tax reform. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 108 to
314. [House Vote 553,
10/4/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 10/4/17; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
453;
Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res.
71]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted To Direct The Office Of The General Counsel Of
The House To Represent The House In The Texas ACA Case Which Overturned
The Entire ACA. In January 2019, Fitzpatrick voted for rules for the
116th Congress. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Adoption of the
resolution that would establish the rules of the House for the 116th
Congress. Title III of the resolution would authorize the speaker, on
behalf of the House of Representatives, to intervene in the Texas court
case that found the 2010 healthcare law unconstitutional and other cases
related to the law. It would also direct the Office of General Counsel
to represent the House in any such litigation." The House passed the
resolution by a vote of 235 to 192. [House Vote 19,
1/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 1/9/19; Congressional
Actions, H. Res.
6]
2018: Fitzpatrick Voted For A February 2018 Two-Year Budget Deal
Which, Among Other Things, Increased Spending By $300 Billion,
Suspended The Debt Ceiling, Reauthorized Community Health Centers For
Two Years And Repealed The Independent Payment Advisory Board. In
February 2018, Fitzpatrick voted for a two-year budget deal that
re-opened the government after a brief shutdown. According to the New
York Times, "With Mr. Trump's signature, the government will reopen
before many Americans were aware it had closed, with a deal that
includes about $300 billion in additional funds over two years for
military and nonmilitary programs, almost $90 billion in disaster
relief in response to last year's hurricanes and wildfires, and a higher
statutory debt ceiling." In addition, according to Congressional
Quarterly, the legislation "would provide funding for federal government
operations and services at current levels through March 23, 2018 [...]
[and] retroactively extends numerous tax breaks that expired at the
end of 2016. It also extends the CHIP program for another four years
(through FY 2027) and funds community health centers for another two
years." The vote was on a motion to concur in the Senate amendment to
the House amendment to the bill. The House agreed to the motion,
essentially on passage, by a vote of 240 to 186. The bill was then sent
to the president, who signed it into law. [House Vote 69,
2/9/18; New York Times,
2/8/18;
Congressional Quarterly,
2/9/18; Congressional Actions,
H.R.
1892]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Final Version Of Trump's Tax Reform
Plan, Which Substantially Cut Taxes For Rich Americans And Corporations,
And Repealed The Individual Mandate. In December 2017, Fitzpatrick
voted for the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, also known as Trump's tax reform
bill. According to Congressional Quarterly, "This Conference Summary
deals with the conference report on HR 1, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which
the House will consider Tuesday. The agreement significantly cuts
corporate and individual taxes and seeks to simply the tax code,
although most individual tax provisions would expire after 2025. It
reduces the corporate tax from 35% to 21% and reduces taxation of
so-called 'pass-through' businesses where profits are taxed at the
individual rate. For corporate taxes it also establishes a 'territorial'
tax system that exempts most overseas income from U.S. taxation. Most
individual tax rate rates would be reduced, including by dropping the
top rate from 39.6% to 37%, and it eliminates personal exemptions but
nearly doubles the standard deduction so fewer taxpayers will itemize
deductions." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a
vote of 227 to 203. The Senate later passed a slightly modified version
of the bill, which the House later agreed to. President Trump later
signed an amended version of the bill into law. [House Vote 692,
12/19/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/18/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1]
Bill Would Repeal The Individual Mandate. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, "Repealing the Individual Mandate. The
bill's most significant effects on outlays would occur as a result
of the elimination, beginning in 2019, of the penalties associated
with the individual mandate. CBO and JCT estimate the following
effects of that provision:" [Congressional Budget Office,
11/26/17]
13 Million Fewer Americans Would Have Health Insurance As A Result
Of Repealing The Individual Mandate. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, "Repealing the Individual Mandate. The
bill's most significant effects on outlays would occur as a result
of the elimination, beginning in 2019, of the penalties associated
with the individual mandate. CBO and JCT estimate the following
effects of that provision: [...] The number of people with health
insurance would decrease by 4 million in 2019 and 13 million in
2027." [Congressional Budget Office,
11/26/17]
Premiums Would Increase By About 10 Percent. According to the
Congressional Budget Office, "Average premiums in the nongroup
market would increase by about 10 percent in most years of the
decade (with no changes in the ages of people purchasing insurance
accounted for) relative to CBO's baseline projections. In other
words, premiums in both 2019 and 2027 would be about 10 percent
higher than is projected in the baseline." [Congressional Budget
Office,
11/26/17]
In 2027, 83 Percent Of The Total Tax Benefit Would Go To The Top
One Percent. According to Tax Policy Center, "n 2027, the overall
average tax cut would be $160, or 0.2 percent of after-tax income
(table 3), largely because almost all individual income tax
provisions would sunset after 2025. On average, taxes would be
little changed for taxpayers in the bottom 95 percent of the income
distribution. Taxpayers in the bottom two quintiles of the income
distribution would face an average tax increase of 0.1 percent of
after-tax income; taxpayers in the middle income quintile would see
no material change on average; and taxpayers in the 95th to 99th
income percentiles would receive an average tax cut of 0.2 percent
of after-tax income. Taxpayers in the top 1 percent of the income
distribution would receive an average tax cut of 0.9 percent of
after-tax income, accounting for 83 percent of the total benefit for
that year." [Tax Policy Center,
12/18/17]
In 2027, 86 Million Americans Would See A Tax Increase.
According to ABC News, "The bill, which carries an estimated $1.5
trillion price tag over 10 years, is not expected to win any
Democratic support. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi points to a
new analysis from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center that predicts
86 million people would see a tax increase compared to current law
by 2027, while 83 percent of the anticipated benefits would be
reaped by the wealthiest one percent of taxpayers." [ABC News,
12/19/17]
2017: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For Repealing The Individual
Mandate. In December 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against a motion to
recommit that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly,
"instruct[ed] [...] the managers on the part of the House that they
disagree with provisions related to state and local tax deductions, and
related to the bill's language that would effectively repeal the
individual health care mandate established by the 2010 health care
overhaul." The underlying bill was the Trump tax reform bill. The House
rejected the motion by a vote of 191 to 236. [House Vote 691,
12/19/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/19/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2017: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted To Repeal The Individual
Mandate. In December 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against a motion that,
according to Congressional Quarterly, "instruct[ed] conferees to
disagree with the Senate amendment that would repeal the individual
health insurance mandate, and to recede from the section House bill that
would eliminate the deduction for state and local income taxes through
2025." The vote was on a motion to instruct the conference committee on
the tax reform bill. The House rejected to the motion by a vote of 186
to 233. [House Vote 654,
12/4/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/4/17; Congressional
Actions, H.R.
1]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The FY 2018 Republican Study Committee
Budget Resolution Which In Part Called For Fully Repealing Obamacare.
In October 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against a budget resolution that
would in part, according to Congressional Quarterly, "provide for $2.9
trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2018. It would balance the
budget by fiscal 2023 by reducing spending by $10.1 trillion over 10
years. It would cap total discretionary spending at $1.06 trillion for
fiscal 2018 and would assume no separate Overseas Contingency Operations
funding for fiscal 2018 or subsequent years and would incorporate
funding related to war or terror into the base defense account. It would
assume repeal of the 2010 health care overhaul and would convert
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program into a single block
grant program. It would require that off budget programs, such as Social
Security, the U.S. Postal Service, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, be
included in the budget." The underlying legislation was an FY 2018 House
GOP budget resolution. The House rejected the RSC budget by a vote of
139 to 281. [House Vote 555,
10/5/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 10/5/17; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
455;
Congressional Actions, H. Con. Res.
71]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against The American Health Care Act That
Which Would Result In 23 Million Fewer Americans With Health Insurance
By 2026. In May 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against the American Health
Care Act which would have significantly repealed portions of the
Affordable Care Act by cutting Medicaid, cutting taxes on the rich,
removing safeguard for pre-existing conditions and defunding Planned
Parenthood. The overall legislation would have in part, also according
to Congressional Quarterly, "ma[d]e extensive changes to the 2010
health care overhaul law, by effectively repealing the individual and
employer mandates as well as most of the taxes that finance the current
system. It would [have], in 2020, convert[ed] Medicaid into a capped
entitlement that would provide[d] fixed federal payments to states and
end[ed] additional federal funding for the 2010 law's joint
federal-state Medicaid expansion. It would prohibit federal funding to
any entity, such as Planned Parenthood, that performs abortions and
receives more than $350 million a year in Medicaid funds. [...] It
would [have] allow[ed] states to receive waivers to exempt insurers
from having to provide certain minimum benefits." The vote was on
passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 213. The bill, in
modified forms, died in the Senate. [House Vote 256,
5/4/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/4/17; Kaiser Family
Foundation,
5/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
1628]
Legislation Would Result In 14 Million Additional Uninsured
Americans In 2018, Rising To 23 Million In 2026. According to the
New York Times, "A bill to dismantle the Affordable Care Act that
narrowly passed the House this month would leave 14 million more
people uninsured next year than under President Barack Obama's
health law --- and 23 million more in 2026, the Congressional Budget
Office said Wednesday. Some of the nation's sickest would pay much
more for health care. Under the House bill, the number of uninsured
would be slightly lower, but deficits would be somewhat higher, than
the budget office estimated before Republican leaders made a series
of changes to win enough votes for passage. Beneath the
headline-grabbing numbers, those legislative tweaks would bring huge
changes to the American health care system." [New York Times,
5/24/17]
Legislation Would Cut Medicaid By $834 Billon Over The Next Ten
Years, Including A Roll Back Of The Medicaid Expansion. According
to the New York Times, "The House repeal bill was approved on May 4
by a vote of 217 to 213, with no support from Democrats. It would
eliminate tax penalties for people who go without health insurance
and roll back state-by-state expansions of Medicaid, which have
provided coverage to millions of low-income people. And in place of
government-subsidized insurance policies offered exclusively on the
Affordable Care Act's marketplaces, the bill would offer tax credits
of $2,000 to $4,000 a year, depending on age. [...] The bill
would reduce projected spending on Medicaid, the program for
low-income people, by $834 billion over 10 years, and 14 million
fewer people would be covered by Medicaid in 2026 --- a reduction of
about 17 percent from the enrollment expected under current law, the
budget office said." [New York Times,
5/24/17]
Legislation Repealed The Individual Mandate And The Medicaid
Expansion Over Time And Replaced Subsidies With Tax Credits Worth
$2,000 To $4,000 For Health Insurance Based On Age. According to
the New York Times, "The House repeal bill was approved on May 4 by
a vote of 217 to 213, with no support from Democrats. It would
eliminate tax penalties for people who go without health insurance
and roll back state-by-state expansions of Medicaid, which have
provided coverage to millions of low-income people. And in place of
government-subsidized insurance policies offered exclusively on the
Affordable Care Act's marketplaces, the bill would offer tax credits
of $2,000 to $4,000 a year, depending on age. A family could
receive up to $14,000 a year in credits. The credits would be
reduced for individuals making more than $75,000 a year and
families making more than $150,000." [New York Times,
5/24/17]
Legislation Replaced The Individual Mandate With A Potential 12
Month 30 Percent Premium Surcharge For Those Who Are Without
Coverage For Longer Than 63 Days. According to Vox, "Unlike
Obamacare, the AHCA does not mandate that all Americans be covered
by health insurance or pay a fee. It repeals the individual mandate,
which was one of Obamacare's least popular provisions. Instead, it
has a different way of penalizing people who decide to remain
uninsured: requiring those who don't maintain 'continuous coverage'
to pay a hefty fine when they want to reenter the insurance market.
This continuous coverage policy has shown up a lot in Republican
replacement plans. It was part of Speaker Ryan's A Better Way
proposal and Rep. Tom Price's Empowering Patients First Act. Here's
how it works: If a worker goes straight from insurance at work to
her own policy, her insurer has to charge her a standard rate --- it
can't take the cost of her condition into account. But if said
worker had a lapse in coverage longer than 63 days --- perhaps she
couldn't afford a new plan between jobs --- and went to the
individual market later, insurers could charge her a 30 percent
premium surcharge. She would need to pay that higher premium for a
full year before returning to the standard rate." [Vox,
5/4/17]
Legislation Would Allow Insurance Companies Charge Premiums Of
Five To One, Instead Of Three To One, For Older To Younger
Customers. According to the CBO, "Relaxing the current-law
requirement that prevents insurers from charging older people
premiums that are more than three times larger than the premiums
charged younger people in the nongroup and small-group markets.
Unless a state sets a different limit, H.R. 1628 would allow
insurers to charge older people five times more than younger ones
beginning in 2018." [CBO,
5/24/17]
Legislation Would Allow States To Seek A Waiver On Insurance
Requirements. According to the Washington Post, "Congressional
analysts concluded that one change to the House bill aimed at
lowering premiums, by allowing states to opt out of some current
insurance requirements, would encourage some employers to maintain
coverage for their workers and get younger, healthier people to buy
plans on their own. But those gains would be largely offset by
consumers with preexisting conditions, who would face higher
premiums than they do now." [Washington Post,
5/24/17]
About 1/6 OF Americans Would Live In States Receiving Insurance
Waivers On Consumer Protections; These Markets Would Eventually
Destabilize. According to the Los Angeles Times, "The House bill
would be particularly harmful to older, sicker residents of states
that waive key consumer protections in the current law, including
the ban on insurers charging sick consumers more. The budget office
estimates that about one-sixth of the U.S. population live in states
that would seek such waivers, which would be allowed under the House
bill. 'Over time, it would become more difficult for less healthy
people (including people with preexisting medical conditions) in
those states to purchase insurance,' the report notes." [Los
Angeles Times,
5/24/17]
Premiums Would Drop In Some States, But Would Be Driven By
Insurance With Fewer Benefits, Likely Driving Up Consumer Costs For
Sicker Americans Such As Increased Costs For Pregnancy, Mental
Health And Substance Abuse. According to the Los Angeles Times,
"The budget office projected that average premiums for those who buy
their own coverage would be lower in some states after 2020 than
under Obamacare, an estimate quickly hailed by Republicans. [...]
But the decrease would be driven largely driven by the fact that
more people would have plans that cover fewer benefits and shift
more costs to consumers, budget analysts wrote. Healthier consumers
'would be able to purchase nongroup insurance with relatively low
premiums,' the budget office said. But skimpier plans with high
deductibles would be particularly problematic for Americans facing
high medical needs. 'Some people enrolled in nongroup insurance
would experience substantial increases in what they would spend on
healthcare,' the report notes. Out-of-pocket costs for pregnancy,
mental health and substance abuse would likely 'increase by
thousands of dollars' for people in some states, the budget office
said." [Los Angeles Times,
5/24/17]
CBO: States That Opt Out Of Community Rating Protections Would
Lead To Sick Americans Being Priced Out Of The Insurance Market.
According to the CBO, "Community-rated premiums would rise over
time, and people who are less healthy (including those with
preexisting or newly acquired medical conditions) would ultimately
be unable to purchase comprehensive nongroup health insurance at
premiums comparable to those under current law, if they could
purchase it at all---despite the additional funding that would be
available under H.R. 1628 to help reduce premiums. As a result, the
nongroup markets in those states would become unstable for people
with higher-than-average expected health care costs. That
instability would cause some people who would have been insured in
the nongroup market under current law to be uninsured." [CBO via
Vox,
5/24/17]
A 64 Year Old American Earning $26,500 Annually Would See Their
Annual Premium Increase From $1,700 To $13,600 In Waiver States.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "Older and poorer Americans
would also see higher premiums or lose coverage altogether. For
example, under the House bill, a 64-year-old single American with an
income of $26,500 a year would see his or her annual insurance bill
jump from $1,700 to $13,600 in states that waive protections now
mandated by Obamacare, according to the budget office. By contrast,
a similar consumer who is 21 would see his or her premiums decrease
from $1,700 to $1,250, budget analysts projected." [Los Angeles
Times,
5/24/17]
Legislation Cut Taxes By $662 Billion, Mostly For The Wealthy.
According to Vox, "The House bill would also cut taxes by $662
billion over the next decade, according to a separate analysis
released Wednesday by the Joint Committee on Taxation, mostly by
repealing Obamacare taxes on the wealthy and health care
industries." [Vox,
5/24/17]
2017: Fitzpatrick Voted Against A Budget Resolution Designed To Begin
The Process Of Repealing The Affordable Care Act, Which Also Assumes A
$9 Trillion Increase In The Federal Debt Over The Next Ten Years. In
January 2017, Fitzpatrick voted against a budget resolution designed to
begin reconciliation instructions to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "the proposed 10-year spending
framework culminates in a $1 trillion annual deficit and adds about $9
trillion to the national debt." The vote was on passage. The House
passed the budget resolution by a vote of 227 to 198. The Senate had
already passed the resolution. [House Vote 58,
1/13/17; Congressional
Quarterly,
1/4/17;
Congressional Actions, S. Con. Res.
3]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus That
Required DHHS To Report Enrollment Figures For The ACA. In June 2019,
Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would, according to Congressional
Quarterly, "require the Health and Human Services Department, in its
report to Congress on enrollment figures for Affordable Care Act health
insurance marketplace, to detail enrollments by state, disaggregated by
race, ethnicity, preferred language, age, and sex." The vote was on
adoption of the amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of
235-183. [House Vote 313,
6/13/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/19;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
329;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For An Amendment To The FY 2020 Minibus That
Effectively Blocked A Trump Administration Rule Allowing For The Sale Of
Health Insurance Policies That Don't Comply With The ACA. In June
2019, Fitzpatrick voted for a bill that would, according to
Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit the use of funds made available under
the bill for the implementation, administration or enforcement of an
August 2018 rule issued by the Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and
Health and Human Services related to short-term limited-duration
insurance plans." The vote was on adoption of the amendment. The House
adopted the amendment by a vote of 236-188. [House Vote 283,
6/13/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/13/19;
Congressional Actions, H.Amdt.
300;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
2740]
The Amendment Effectively Blocked A Trump Administration Rule That
Allowed For Health Insurance Plans That Do Not Cover People With
Pre-Existing Conditions. According to the New York Times, "The
Trump administration issued a final rule on Wednesday that clears
the way for the sale of many more health insurance policies
[short-term limited-duration insurance] that do not comply with
the Affordable Care Act and do not have to cover prescription drugs,
maternity care or people with pre-existing medical conditions."
[New York Times,
8/1/18]
New York Times: Short-Term Limited-Duration Insurance "[Lures]
Healthy People Away" From The Insurance Markets And Raises Premiums
For Sicker People. According to the New York Times, "Democrats
derided the new policies as 'junk insurance' that will lure healthy
people away from the broader insurance market, raising premiums for
sicker people and putting purchasers at risk. 'After an illness or
an injury, many Americans who enroll in these G.O.P. junk health
coverage plans will end up being hit by crushing medical bills,
finding that they have been paying for coverage that doesn't cover
much at all,' said Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the
House Democratic leader." [New York Times,
8/1/18]
Many Stakeholders, Including Consumer Advocates, Doctors,
Hospitals, And Insurance Companies, All Opposed The Rule.
According to the New York Times, "Consumer advocates, doctors,
hospitals and some insurance companies expressed deep concern about
the new plans, saying they would not adequately protect people who
develop serious illnesses and could further destabilize insurance
markets by drawing away healthy people. People who buy the new
policies and develop cancer could 'face astronomical costs' and 'may
be forced to forgo treatment entirely because of costs,' said Chris
Hansen, the president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action
Network." [New York Times,
8/1/18]