The House plans consider three major bills next week that aim to expand the use of health savings accounts.
House leadership aims to pass the legislation before lawmakers leave for the monthlong August recess starting after next week.
House Republicans’ effort comes amid a barrage of attacks from Democrats who charge that GOP policies, especially repealing the penalties for going uninsured, are contributing to rising Obamacare premiums.
Health savings accounts, which allow a consumer to set aside pre-tax money for healthcare expenses, have long been popular among Republicans, who have argued it gives Americans more control over their healthcare dollars and is a way to keep costs down. Several Obamacare repeal bills included measures to boost the use of health savings accounts.
One of the bills to be taken up next week seeks to boost the contribution limits for health savings accounts, while another would allow the inclusion of certain over-the-counter products as qualified medical expenses. Another would allow catastrophic plans sold on Obamacare’s exchanges to qualify for HSA contributions, which currently such plans cannot do.
The bill for catastrophic care plans ignited opposition from Democrats on the House Ways & Means Committee, which advanced the bills last week during a contentious mark-up hearing.
Democrats charged that the bill would take away premium tax credits for plans that cover women’s health such as abortion services.
“In Washington state, all health plans are required to cover comprehensive women’s health services, including abortion,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. “Because of the way this bill is written, no one in my state would be eligible for premium tax credits.”
Ways & Means Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, responded at the hearing that the bill retains Obamacare’s benefits but expands choices for Americans.
Even if the bills pass the House, however, they would have a difficult road in the Senate, where Democratic support would be required absent another attempt at passing healthcare legislation through reconciliation (the parliamentary maneuver allowing for the passage of bills with a simple majority). It isn’t even clear that they would be able to find unified support among Republicans.
Still, the HSA vote is a way for House Republicans to argue ahead of the midterm elections that they’ve tried to address the healthcare, but were thwarted by Democratic obstruction.
