In the News

While Democrats race to the Left to get behind socialized health care plans like Medicare For All, the Republican Study Committee (RSC) is taking the lead for Republicans by offering a conservative market-based alternative that emphasizes providing quality health care coverage and reducing costs. On Washington Watch this week, I hosted Republican Study Committee Chairman Mike Johnson (R-La.) to unveil the first phase of their new health care plan.

As he told our audience, this is “a framework for personalized affordable care.” The RSC has worked in close coordination with White House on this plan which seeks to expand upon the principles of health care reform that the president has already taken. Even better is the fact that this plan is not offered with the interests of big business and big insurance companies in mind. Instead it seeks to achieve more personalized affordable care that benefits the American people, not the insurance companies that supported Obamacare.

Johnson laid out the specifics: “this plan . . . has two basic premises. One, we want to protect vulnerable Americans. That includes […] everybody with preexisting conditions, chronic illnesses, serious health issues. But at the same time, we can reduce premiums and deductibles and the overall cost of health care. We have to do both of those things and we've got the plan to do it."

How exactly does this plan seek to protect vulnerable Americans and cut costs? First, by applying HIPAA portability laws to the individual market in order to eliminate the gaps in coverage for people with preexisting conditions. Second, by cutting back regulations that stop innovative health care ideas from flourishing like telemedicine, and direct primary care. Finally, by unleashing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) so that Americans can put even more money into their HSA and use those funds on a variety of health care expenses.

Ever since the Republican majority in Congress failed by one vote to repeal and replace Obamacare in 2017, Democrats have taken the lead in offering health care proposals. They made health care reform their priority in the 2018 elections, propelling them to take back the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. If we allow Democrats to lead the charge on the next health care reform debate, not only would they outlaw private insurance, but also mandate taxpayer funding for abortion and repeal any conscience protections for health care providers that object to performing abortions. So far, the RSC is the only group with an alternative to the big government plans proposed by Democrats. With Rep. Johnson taking President Trump up on his offer to reclaim the narrative on health care reform, there is real hope for the affordable quality health care that everyone deserves.