Representative Angie Craig Secures Key Priorities to Lower Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs in the Build Back Better Act

WASHINGTON, DC —Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig secured the inclusion of several key health care priorities in the Build Back Better Act. Earlier today, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved its portion of the package, which includes longstanding priorities of Rep. Craig's to lower out-of-pocket costs for Minnesotans, including her proposal to establish a federal reinsurance program and a provision to expand Medicare benefits to include coverage for dental, vision and hearing for America's seniors.

"For far too long, middle class families have struggled to access high-quality, affordable health care. Congress can and must do more to ensure that every American, regardless of income, can receive the care they need at a price they can afford. Today, we made important progress in making that goal a reality," said Representative Craig. "I am particularly proud that the Energy and Commerce Committee has included my bipartisan proposal to create and fund a federal reinsurance program that would strengthen the Affordable Care Act in the Build Back Better Act to lower health care premiums for millions of Americans."

Several of Craig's longstanding health care priorities were included in the Committee's final provisions:

• $10 billion annually to establish a federal reinsurance program, based on Craig's State Health Care Premium Reduction Act. The legislation also allows states to use the funds to directly lower premiums, out-of-pocket costs and deductibles for enrollees. According to CBO, individual market premiums would be 7 percent lower than under current law.
• Expansion of Medicare to cover dental, vision and hearing care. House Democrats are advancing provisions to expand Medicare, which does not currently include many benefits that seniors require – namely dental, vision and hearing care. If enacted, for the first time, seniors in Minnesota would be able to get the hearing aids, glasses and dental care they need through Medicare – something that Angie believes is long overdue.
• $190 billion for home and community-based services.The legislation invests $190 billion to expand access to quality home-based services and care for millions of older adults and people with disabilities. It will also strengthen the direct care workforce by improving provider payment rates and giving states the resources to improve their care infrastructure.