Blue Dog Coalition Backs Commonsense Measure to Reduce Health Care Costs

WASHINGTON – The Blue Dog Coalition announced their support for H.R. 1624, the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act.

The bill seeks amend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by maintaining the current definition of small groups employers as from 1-50 employees, while giving states the flexibility to expand the group size. The law in its current state would automatically classify all firms with 1-100 employees as small group employers beginning in 2016.

"When I talk to families and employers in Arizona about health care, the concern I hear most is increasing cost," said Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), a lead sponsor of the bill. "This bipartisan solution keeps costs down and lets hardworking Arizonans keep their healthcare. I'm committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation to provide relief for Arizona workers and employers and protect access to quality affordable health care."

"We are the best nation on earth. We face problems sometimes, but the American spirit embodies the can-do, we-can-fix-it attitude. Instead of trying to repeal or defund the health care law, we should be working together to improve it," said Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy Jim Cooper (TN-05). "That's why Blue Dogs are leading the charge with commonsense solutions to make the law work better for everyone."

"While the Affordable Care Act has provided millions of Americans the opportunity to gain access to quality, affordable healthcare, we have found areas in the law that can be improved, and the PACE Act modifies current law so that employees of small and mid-sized businesses are not faced with increased premiums that could take effect in January," said Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications Jim Costa (CA-16). "This is bipartisan, commonsense legislation that will result in cost-savings and increased coverage options for individuals and families throughout the nation. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to get this legislation passed and signed into law.

H.R. 1624 currently has 229 cosponsors from both parties. The legislation received a hearing in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health earlier this month.