2019: Fitzpatrick Voted For The Protecting Americans With Preexisting
Conditions Act of 2019, Which Prevented The Trump Administration From
Giving Waivers To States To Bypass Certain ACA Requirements. 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 to implement or enforce
their October 2018 guidance regarding criteria for evaluating Section
1332 state health care plan waivers under the 2010 health care overhaul,
and would prohibit the departments from effectively reissuing the
guidance. Section 1332 waivers exempt state health care plans from
certain federal requirements under the Affordable Care Act, including
requirements related to qualified health plans, tax credits, and
individual and employer mandates. To be eligible for such waivers,
proposed state plans are required to provide care to a 'comparable
number' of residents that is 'as comprehensive' and 'as affordable' as
would otherwise be provided under the ACA. The October 2018 guidance
modifies guidelines for considering waiver applications, emphasizing
that a proposed state health care plan should be evaluated based on the
number of residents that would have 'access' to comparable coverage
under the plan, as opposed to the number of residents that purchase such
coverage." In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly, the
bill "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 passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 183.
[House Vote 196, 5/9/19;
Congressional Quarterly, 5/9/19;
Congressional Quarterly, 5/9/19;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
986]
2019: Fitzpatrick Voted To Prevent HHS And Treasury From Doing
Anything That Would Make Health Insurance Less Affordable For Those With
Pre-Existing Conditions Or Be Less Comprehensive Than The ACA's
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 reduce the affordability, for
individuals with preexisting conditions, of health insurance at least as
comprehensive as the 'essential health benefits packages' 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 302 to 117. The House later passed the
underlying bill. [House Vote 193,
5/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/9/19; Congressional
Quarterly, 5/9/19; Congressional
Actions, H. Amdt.
207;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
986]