The outgoing head of the Department of Health and Human Services bashed several Republican policies that likely would be a part of any replacement plan for Obamacare.
“I think we haven’t seen a real proposal for replacement,” HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell said during her farewell address at the National Press Club. “We have not seen a plan that is out there that is actually a real plan with details for the most fundamental questions that we deserve.”
Burwell then criticized several pieces of Republican plans that have been floated, including allowing insurers to sell plans across state lines.
“Selling across state lines becomes a race to the bottom with regards to these quality issues,” she said.
Burwell noted that the provision could enable insurers to craft plans in states with fewer insurance regulations and sell them to plans in states with stricter regulations, affecting quality.
“The conversation needs to focus on the substance,” she said. “What are you trying to do and how do you intend to impact access?”
Burwell also discussed a policy to expand health savings accounts as “generally a tax break. It is a form of tax assistance that you can put money away that isn’t tax assistance. What does it cost to do that?”
Republicans have responded that repealing the law now is needed to provide relief for people suffering from double-digit premium increases. However, some GOP senators are concerned about the plan to repeal the law immediately without a replacement ready.
