Numerous healthcare organizations have issued a joint statement urging Congress to support the Alexander-Murray bill and its continued funding of cost-sharing reduction payments for the next two years.
Funding CSRs will help lower-income patients afford care and give consumers access to a greater number of affordable insurance options said America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Benefits Council, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
[Also: Senators strike bipartisan deal to give insurers 2 more years of CSR payments]
If CSRs are not funded, the organizations said, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the budget deficit would increase by almost $200 billion over 10 years due to the rising cost of premiums and the resulting hike in the use premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.
Since President Donald Trump ended CSRs, a decision that went into effect today, insurers that can have been refiling their rates in the ACA exchanges to make up for the loss in subsidies. Insurers use the funds to help lower deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for consumers. Without CSRs, insurers have said to expect a 20 percent premium hike going into open enrollment on Nov. 1.
[Also: Connecticut Insurance Commissioner presses Senate on CSR payments]
The bipartisan Alexander-Murray bill has an uphill road, as President Donald Trump has said he does not support a healthcare plan that gives subsidies to insurers. It also faces objection from conservative members of the Republican House and Senate.
It currently has the support of 12 of the 52 Republican senators, according to Vox.
On Thursday, the bill's sponsors, Sens. Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray, said they had gotten 24 co-sponsors for their bill, 12 from each party.
Democrats are likely to support the bill.
Republican Senate support has come from Sens. Mike Rounds, Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Joni Ernst, Lisa Murkowski, Richard Burr, Bob Corker, Johnny Isakson and Chuck Grassley.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com