Healthcare

Today, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, spoke out against the Republican-created health care crisis. After previously rejecting Rep. Doggett’s amendment to maintain the tax credits that help millions of families afford ACA plans, Republicans shut down the government for weeks, and waited all year to eventually offer a bill that replaces ObamaCare with NothingCare.

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, sought answers from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Oz concerning CMS’s response to agent and broker fraud in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. His action follows alarming findings in a new, nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing persistent failure by the Trump Administration to identify and prevent fraud. “GAO has revealed Trump’s permissive response to extensive fraud caused by insurance broker/agent wrongdoing. The remedy is not to deny a mother access to care for her sick child. What we need is effective law enforcement and less Trump coddling and pardoning of offenders ,” said Rep. Doggett. “Yelling “fraud” while empowering criminals solves nothing and will harm many. As usual, House Republicans fear any meaningful oversight of the Trump regime.”

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, reacted to a new, nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealing persistent failure to identify and prevent instances of fraud, waste, and abuse by Affordable Care Act Marketplace agents and brokers.

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, introduced the Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Consumer Protection Act to prevent the misuse of these accounts and to implement consumer protection guardrails against misleading junk fees. As they seek to undermine the Affordable Care Act, Republicans are promoting expanded HSA tax shelters that benefit the wealthy, while tying working families to high-deductible plans that can leave many unable to afford a visit to the doctor. While an independent analysis found that nearly 60% of the value of ACA tax credits benefit families earning 200% or less than the federal poverty line (about $64,000 for a family of four); nearly half of the value of HSAs benefit households earning over $200,000.

Washington, D.C.—With the beginning of this National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) announced $16,989,375 million in federal funds for the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “The Hotline,” based in Austin, to continue serving as the country’s designated crisis hotline to provide confidential and lifesaving support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

With complete federal government control, Republicans control this government shutdown. I do not believe we should yield to Trump’s demands without getting some protection for all those about to have their health care access to a physician denied or seriously impaired.