Colorado Politics

Coffman among Problem Solvers with a bipartisan Obamacare fix

U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman of Aurora is among 40 centrist House members in the Problems Solvers Caucus that’s offering a bipartisan fix for Obamacare. They offered a proposal Monday to address insurance markets without dismantling the system millions of Americans rely on.

The $215 billion proposal includes about $7 billion in cost-sharing subsidies this year that President Donald Trump has criticized. The subsidies, though, hold down the cost of premiums and keep large insurers participating in the state Obamacare insurance exchanges.

It also would repeal two taxes, one on medical devices and one that penalizes businesses with at least 50 employees that don’t offer insurance plans.

“I am encouraged by the willingness of Republicans and Democrats in the Problem Solvers Caucus to come together to help find ways to stabilize our individual insurance markets,” Coffman said in a statement. “This consensus proposal is a good starting point for further discussions.

“However, I believe these measures only serve as a temporary fix. We still must replace the current system to ensure long-term stability and to reduce healthcare costs for all Americans.”

Politico reported that the bipartisan group also wants more flexibility for state innovation, something Colorado Republican leaders have called for to set up block grants and other programs that best suit local needs.

“The roll out of their stabilization agenda follows months of private meetings between various members involved in the House’s centrist caucuses about ways to stabilize Obamacare if the GOP’s repeal effort sputtered,” Politico reported Monday.

That sputtering happened last week when Senate Republicans couldn’t move forward on any plan to repeal or replace Obamacare.

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet also has called on a bipartisan fix to the existing healthcare plan.

“It’s past time for a bipartisan approach that lowers costs and improves outcomes,” Bennett said as the Senate Republican healthcare plan was imploding. “Cutting taxes for special interests while slashing funds for Medicaid does literally nothing but make our challenges in healthcare worse. We should turn our attention to competition, transparency, and affordability so that we can create a system that serves all Coloradans.”

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