Hoyer Statement on House Republicans' Partisan Health Care Bill

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after joining with Democrats to vote against the partisan Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act:

“Today, I joined Democrats in voting against the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act. Contrary to the bill's title, this partisan legislation would severely limit our government's ability to negotiate lower health care and prescription drug costs for the American people. As the leading House sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and a longtime advocate for disability rights, I agree that we need to stop the use of Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) metrics and other discriminatory practices that determine the value of treatments, prescription drugs, and insurance plans. Indeed, that's why last Congress I helped Democrats pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which included an explicit ban on QALYs.
 
“This bill needlessly broadens that ban to include any cost-effectiveness metrics, including those the disability community deems nondiscriminatory. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill would cost taxpayers $1.115 billion dollars in the next decade by raising drug costs for Medicare, Medicaid, the Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration. Republicans plan to cover these costs by dramatically cutting funding to the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which, among other responsibilities, seeks to reduce childhood lead poisoning.
 
“I will always work with those with a genuine desire to crack down on discrimination in health care. This bill does not accomplish that objective. We ought to recognize this legislation for what it is: Republicans' latest effort to undermine Americans' access to quality, affordable health care.”