Health system has failed too many

I’m Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and I’ve spent my life in service to others. I served for 24 years as a nurse and physician in the U.S. Army, and I’m the only current member of Congress who has also served as a state public health director.

I’ve seen the challenges patients face from the bedside to the highest levels of public service, and I’ve made it my mission to fix a system that has failed far too many for far too long.

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After nearly 15 years of broken promises under the so-called Affordable Care Act, families have been left with higher premiums, fewer choices and prescription costs that are simply out of control. For too long, big insurance companies have profited while working families have paid the price.

This week, the House took a major step forward. My bill, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, passed with strong support, delivering real solutions to finally put patients and their doctors back in control.

The numbers speak for themselves. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, our bill will lower premiums by 11% across the board, with even greater savings of up to 30% for small businesses that join together through Association Health Plans. It will reduce the deficit by $36 billion, without raising taxes or expanding bureaucracy.

We’re ending blank checks to insurance companies and making reforms that benefit the American people. We’re requiring transparency from the pharmacy benefit managers who’ve quietly inflated drug prices behind the scenes. We’re empowering employers and workers with more choices, and more freedom to pick the coverage that fits their needs, not Washington’s.

Unfortunately, 210 members of Congress voted against it. They voted to keep the status quo, a system that helps benefit profitable insurance companies and leaves patients behind. That’s unacceptable.

To every Iowan and American who’s been squeezed by rising premiums or felt like the health care system is working against them, help is on the way. This is just the beginning.

I’m proud to have led this legislation, and I’ll never stop fighting to make health care more affordable, more accessible, and more accountable, for Iowa, and for all Americans.

The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act puts patients first. It does exactly what its title promises and more: lowers premium costs, expands access to affordable, quality care, gives every American more options and flexibility to choose coverage that is best for their needs, and brings greater transparency to the health care system.

House Republicans are working to fix what is broken, restore integrity in our nation’s health care system, and lower the cost of health care for every citizen.

This is a plan for working Americans, not for profitable insurance companies.

Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing and formulary decisions — empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.

Provides necessary funding for cost sharing reduction payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed toward low-income enrollees that need them.

Expands access to Association Health Plans by allowing employers — including self-employed workers — to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.

Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not “health insurance coverage.” This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.

Codifies and strengthens 2019 rules allowing employers to offer defined contributions for employees to purchase their own coverage — renamed as CHOICE arrangements — and permits employees to pay premiums pretax.