WASHINGTON, DC - Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA) and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) today released the following statements after the Trump Administration requested additional time to make a decision on whether to continue making cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments as permitted under the Affordable Care Act (ACA):
“While today’s decision by the Administration will continue the legal payments of subsidies that help millions of Americans with health care costs, this appears to be part of an intentional strategy by the Administration to cause even greater uncertainty in the health insurance markets so that it can push its false political talking point that Obamacare is collapsing," said Ranking Member Neal. “Health insurance companies have even said that the Trump Administration is directly responsible for the uncertainty, causing them to pull out of exchanges. Today’s decision is nothing more than irresponsible, continued sabotage of our nation’s health care system by this Administration, hurting millions of Americans in the process."
“The basic purpose of the Republican lawsuit was to create uncertainty and undermine the ACA," said Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Levin. “The decision today represents the knowledge of the Republicans that the public is increasingly holding them responsible for the uncertainty in the insurance marketplace. The Republicans should follow the step taken today to continue the necessary cost sharing payments for 90 days by withdrawing their lawsuit and encouraging the integrity of the marketplace rather than the opposite."
