Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and a group of 43 Republicans and Democrats unveiled a set of solutions to stabilize the individual health insurance markets and slow the rise of premiums and deductibles. Rep. Peters has worked to bring leaders from both sides together on bipartisan solutions since the beginning of the health care debate. He was active in discussions to reach consensus on these proposals among members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 43 members from both parties who are committed to bipartisanship. These proposed solutions are the first to get bipartisan support after the failure of the Senate Republicans’ attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Some of the details in the Problem Solvers proposal mirror the solutions put forward both in Rep. Peters’ op-ed and the market stabilization plan that he announced with nine other Democrats earlier this month. A summary of Rep. Peters’ actions this year to protect and fix the Affordable Care Act is listed at the end of this statement.

"This is a starting point for bipartisan solutions to stabilize the individual insurance market, keep Americans covered, and slow the rise of premiums and deductibles,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “We all acknowledge there are parts of the Affordable Care Act that need to be fixed and parts that need to be protected, and we are putting party politics aside to get to work. Even on an issue as contentious as health care, in an atmosphere as partisan as D.C., we have found this common ground that we can build from."

Bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus Proposal to Stabilize the Individual Market

It is clear that the individual health insurance market is deteriorating in some areas of the country and we must act quickly to stabilize it. We all agree that the individual market needs restructuring, and we should swiftly implement changes in time to take effect for insurance plans offered for 2018. Committees of jurisdiction should begin to address the issue through regular order.

To stabilize the individual market and provide some immediate relief, we propose exploring? realistic solutions including the following:

1. Bring cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments under the Congressional oversight and appropriations process, but ensure they have mandatory funding. CSR payments are an important part of helping households earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level afford to participate in the individual market. Bringing CSR payments under the appropriations process ensures that Congress can provide proper oversight.

2. Create a dedicated stability fund that states can use to reduce premiums and limit losses for providing coverage—especially for those with pre-existing conditions.

3. Adjust the employer mandate by raising the threshold on the requirement for employers to provide insurance under the employer mandate to businesses of 500 employees or more. The current employer mandate places a regulatory burden on smaller employers and acts as a disincentive for many small businesses to grow past 50 employees. Additionally, the definition of “full time” under the employer mandate should indicate that a full-time work week is 40 hours.

4. Repeal the medical device tax. This tax adds a 2.3% sales tax on medical device supplies. The costs of the tax are passed on to consumers and it should be repealed.

5. Provide technical changes and clear guidelines for states that want to innovate on the exchange or enter into regional compacts to improve coverage and create more options for consumers.

? Section 1332 of the ACA allows states to innovate and share in health savings while offering strong plans with all essential health benefits. Some states have begun to experiment in this regard, with great potential for success. However, some technical legislative changes and/or revised HHS guidance may improve attractiveness to additional states.

? Similarly, Section 1333 of the ACA allows states to enter into Health Care Choice Compacts, which allow insurers to sell across state lines in participating states. However, HHS has not yet released regulations on Section 1333. HHS should issue clear guidelines and work with states to spur innovation and bring more choice and competition to the market while protecting consumers.

We must continue to explore additional ways to improve patient choice and responsibility, create positive incentives for providers to lower costs, and enhance state flexibility. During the August work period we will meet with constituents and stakeholders and will return to Congress ready to take action.

We believe that this proposal should be paid for. We stand ready to work to find agreeable offsets within federal health care spending.

A summary of Rep. Peters’ actions this year to protect and fix the Affordable Care Act:

• July 28: Rep. Peters called for Congress to get to work on bipartisan health care solutions after Senate Republicans failed to pass their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act
• July 25: Reps. Peters, Welch, and Schrader led 86 Democrats asking Speaker Ryan to work with them on bipartisan health care solutions.
• July 18: Rep. Peters and other members of the New Democrat Coalition met with Republicans from the Tuesday Group to discuss a bipartisan path forward on health care.
• July 18: Rep. Peters urged bipartisanship after a majority of U.S. Senators came out against the most recent health care repeal bill.
• July 17: Rep. Peters called out Secretary Price for his admission that health care repeal would take American backwards and again urged bipartisan health care solutions.
• July 12: Rep. Peters and a group of House Democrats from across the political spectrum unveiled a five-part plan to stabilize the individual health insurance marketplace and slow the growth of premiums and deductibles.
• July 7: Rep. Peters put forward his own proposals to stabilize the individual insurance markets in op-ed in the San Diego Union Tribune.
• June 26: Rep. Peters sharply criticized the Senate Republican healthcare repeal bill after an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office found that it would cause 22 million fewer Americans to have health insurance, including 4 million Americans who would lose employer-sponsored coverage next year.
• May 24: Rep. Peters criticized the Republican healthcare repeal bill after an updated analysis from the Congressional Budget Office showed that it would leave 23 million more Americans without coverage.
• May 4: Rep. Peters debated and voted against the Republican health care repeal bill on the House floor.
• March 24: Rep. Peters debated against the Republican health care bill on the House floor, helping to stop it from getting a vote.
• March 21: Rep. Peters led 95 Democratic members of Congress to demand that Speaker Ryan give the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) time to “score” the substantive changes to the Republican healthcare repeal bill before scheduling it for a vote in the House.
• March 13: Rep. Peters slammed the Congressional Republicans’ healthcare bill after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would result in 14 million more Americans not having health insurance next year, and 24 million fewer covered by 2026.
• March 9: After a marathon 27 hour meeting, Rep. Peters voted against advancing the Republican healthcare repeal out of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
• March 8: Rep. Peters urged fiscal responsibility and bipartisanship during the first day of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s markup of the first House Republican health care repeal bill.