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Dr. Ruiz Demands Speaker Ryan Keep Congress in Session to Address Rising Health Care Costs

July 27, 2017

Calls for Congress to help bring stability to health insurance markets

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36) called on Speaker Ryan to not adjourn for the August District Work Period until Congress addresses the threat of not funding Cost Sharing Reductions that help patients afford out-of-pocket costs. This instability in the Marketplace is driving up the cost of health care for the American people and must be addressed immediately before insurers set their 2018 rates in September. Attached is a copy of that letter and the text can be found below:

July 27, 2017

The Honorable Paul Ryan

Speaker of the House of Representatives

1233 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Ryan,

I urge you to not adjourn the House for the August district work period until the issue of funding for Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) subsidies, which help patients afford out-of-pocket costs, has been resolved. To date, President Trump has refused to commit to funding the subsidies, causing uncertainty in the Marketplace. We must work immediately to bring greater stability to patients across the country.

Currently, individuals and families earning between 100-250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for CSRs, which reduce out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles and co-payments. Millions of Americans rely on these critical subsidies to afford doctor visits, pay for prescriptions, and ensure coverage in life-threatening situations.

Without guaranteed funding for CSRs, premiums will increase and insurers will exit the Marketplace, leaving consumers high and dry. In fact, Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, told the Washington Post in May, "The failure of the Administration and the House to bring certainty and clarity by funding CSRs has caused our company to file a 22.9 percent premium increase, rather than one that is materially lower." Furthermore, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that if CSRs are not funded, health insurance premiums will rise approximately 19 percent, significantly increasing costs for hardworking families.

I encourage Republicans and Democrats to stay in Washington to address the issue of CSR funding, before insurance companies set their premium rates and decide whether to exit the Marketplace in September.

Sincerely,

Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D.

Member of Congress