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Release Analyses of Healthcare Provisions, Lawmakers Tell CBO

OCT. 5, 2021

Release Analyses of Healthcare Provisions, Lawmakers Tell CBO

DATED OCT. 5, 2021
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Brady, Rep. Kevin P.
    Foxx, Rep. Virginia
    McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Cathy
    Smith, Rep. Jason
  • Institutional Authors
    U.S. House of Representatives
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Industry Groups
    Health care
    Insurance
  • Jurisdictions
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    2021-38481
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2021 TNTF 193-15

October 5, 2021

The Honorable Phillip Swagel
Director
Congressional Budget Office
Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Director Swagel,

We write to request the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) release analyses of the health care provisions included in the $4.3 trillion tax and spending plan reported out of the House Committee on the Budget on September 25, 2021. Congressional debate — which has continued for weeks as House Democrats struggle to unite their caucus — has occurred absent any official budgetary scores or coverage analysis for these policies. Any CBO analysis should be made public as soon as possible so that there is a modicum of transparency surrounding these proceedings. Lawmakers and all Americans should understand the consequences of the policies that are being rushed through Congress by a purely partisan process.

Specifically, we have concerns that the proposed health care provisions will further make individuals dependent on government-subsidized, government-controlled insurance coverage; ineffectively spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars in exchange for only modest coverage gains; affect access to the job-based plans workers like and want to keep; and utilize budget gimmicks to manipulate and downplay the true cost of these policies.

We request answers, including any estimates or data available, to the following questions:

1. What is the projected amount of cost to the federal government due to the following coverage policies in the bill?

a. The permanent expansion and extension of advanced premium tax credit (PTC) subsidies for non-group coverage; and

i. How much of these funds would go towards individuals who already are enrolled in some form of health care coverage, including specific numbers for those making more than 700% of the federal poverty level (FPL);

b. The new definition of “affordable employer-sponsored insurance (ESI)” for determining PTC eligibility;

c. The extension of PTCs to those receiving unemployment through 2025;

d. The new “Federal Medicaid” entitlement program that would take effect in 2025; and

e. The cost-sharing mandates on plan design.

2. What is the projected number of workers who will no longer have job-based coverage and which respective policies are driving the reduction in job-based coverage?

3. What is the projected number of new exchange enrollees with incomes above:

a. 400% FPL;

b. 600% FPL; and

c. 700% FPL?

4. What is the projected number of new enrollees in both the current, traditional Medicaid, and the proposed “Federal Medicaid,” and the type of coverage (if any) those enrollees would have otherwise enrolled in before enrolling in Medicaid?

5. What is the projected number of enrollees made eligible for PTCs based on the extension of the unemployment compensation policy?

6. What is the projected change in the number of uninsured individuals? Additionally, please provide information on the following:

a. Which type of coverage these individuals may now choose to enroll in; and

b. Information on the remaining uninsured population.

We kindly request a response no later than October 15, 2021. If you have any questions or cannot provide answers to any of the questions in this letter, please contact Patrick Dumas with the House Committee on the Budget (Patrick.dumas@mail.house.gov) and we can discuss how to best move forward with this request.

Thank you for your assistance in providing information on this massive, rushed tax and spending spree. We hope the Majority abandons this process and returns to regular order so that lawmakers and the American people have the necessary time to understand fully the repercussions of the Democrats' reckless tax and spend policies.

Sincerely,

Jason Smith
Republican Leader
House Committee on the Budget

Kevin Brady
Republican Leader
House Committee on Ways and Means

Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Republican Leader
House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Virginia Foxx
Republican Leader
House Committee on Education and Labor

DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Brady, Rep. Kevin P.
    Foxx, Rep. Virginia
    McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Cathy
    Smith, Rep. Jason
  • Institutional Authors
    U.S. House of Representatives
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Industry Groups
    Health care
    Insurance
  • Jurisdictions
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    2021-38481
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2021 TNTF 193-15
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