27 Patient Groups Praise House Passage of Legislation That Extends Quality, Affordable Health Coverage to Millions

Organizations Urge Senate to Quickly Pass Build Back Better Act — and Say Congress Should Begin Work Now to Make Reforms Permanent

Washington, DC – 27 organizations representing millions of people with preexisting conditions welcome today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on H.R. 5376, which includes positive progress on key patient priorities.

“We applaud the House’s efforts to advance important legislation to improve the lives of patients and consumers across the country. Today’s vote represents a significant down payment on the future of our country’s health. We now urge the Senate to quickly take up this package and pass this critical bill.

This legislation includes key reforms that millions of patients are counting on. Those include:

• Extending enhanced advance premium tax credits (APTCs) that reduce patients’ health coverage costs until 2025;
• Taking significant steps towards closing the Medicaid coverage gap, a key measure to improve health equity;
• Allowing people with high-cost employer-sponsored health coverage to access more affordable insurance through the ACA Marketplaces;
• Expanding continuous eligibility in the Medicaid program, helping kids keep their health care coverage;
• Providing permanent funding for Medicaid in the territories;
• Funding for home and community-based services to better support older adults and people with disabilities; and
• Permanently funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

This historic bill will increase access to high-quality, affordable health insurance for millions of Americans — including those with pre-existing conditions. Some of these solutions are temporary, and without further action, patients will once again face similar barriers to health care in just a few years.

Our organizations remain committed to working with Congress to permanently secure enhanced APTCs and close the Medicaid coverage gap once and for all.

Because the solutions included in the Build Back Better Act will have immediate and profound positive impacts on the communities we serve, we celebrate the House’s dedication to prioritizing the needs of people with pre-existing conditions and urge Congress to swiftly enact this legislation.”

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1. ALS Association
2. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
3. American Heart Association
4. American Kidney Fund
5. American Lung Association
6. Arthritis Foundation
7. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
8. Cancer Support Community
9. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
10. Epilepsy Foundation
11. Family Voices
12. Hemophilia Federation of America
13. Mended Little Hearts
14. Muscular Dystrophy Association
15. National Alliance on Mental Illness
16. National Eczema Association
17. National Health Council
18. National Hemophilia Foundation
19. National Kidney Foundation
20. National MS Society
21. National Organization for Rare Disorders
22. National Patient Advocate Foundation
23. Susan G. Komen
24. The AIDS Institute
25. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
26. United Way Worldwide
27. WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease