Washington, D.C. – Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) voted in the House Ways and Means Committee today to advance health care legislation to lower costs and empower individuals and families. The American Health Care Act will provide relief from the Affordable Care Act and return health care decisions back to the states, giving Americans access to quality, affordable health care options that are tailored to meet patients’ needs.

“After many years and countless stories of patients facing skyrocketing premiums, losing their health care plan, and not being able to see their doctor, we are replacing Obamacare with a plan that will lower costs and give patients immediate relief,” said Congressman Paulsen. “I am glad to see two initiatives that I helped lead – the repeal of the harmful medical device tax as well as the enhancement and expansion of Health Savings Accounts – included in these reforms, because they will help American families have access to high-quality health care.”

The Affordable Care Act led to higher costs, fewer choices, and restricted access to doctors that patients liked. Last year alone, more than 100,000 Minnesotans lost their health care coverage. The American Health Care Act preserves important reforms, such as coverage for preexisting conditions and allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26 years old.

Congressman Paulsen is a leader in advocating policies to protect and advance medical innovation. Every session, he has introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax included in President Obama’s health care law that applies to the sale of life-saving and life-changing medical devices and technologies. In the 114th Congress, a two-year suspension of the medical device tax passed in both the House and the Senate with broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by President Obama.

He also champions initiatives to expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Savings Accounts (FSAs). HSAs and FSAs provide individuals with opportunities to utilize tax free savings for everyday medical costs. When Congress first made HSAs available, these plans only covered 454,000 lives. In 2016, 20.2 million individuals were covered under a health plan that is eligible for an HSA; nearly 30 percent of filers make less than $75,000 per year. In Minnesota, approximately 800,000 individuals are covered by HSAs.

House Republicans are committed to making this process of health care reform open and transparent. Please read the bill at ReadTheBill.gop.

Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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