HARRISBURG (TNS) — The state House on Tuesday passed a package of Democrat-sponsored bills intended to write key tenets of the federal Affordable Care Act into state law in case the federal government should scrap “Obamacare” in the future.
All four of the bills passed the House in split votes, with each getting the support of all 101 Democrats and 20 or more Republicans. One bill would prevent insurers from putting annual and lifetime limits on health insurance coverage. Another would ensure parents can keep children on their policies until they turn 26.
The former bill was sponsored by Allegheny County Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel, who said the ACA provision allowed millions of Americans with chronic conditions or serious illnesses to “live without the constant fear of financial ruin.” People in those situations, he said, could “quickly face bankruptcy if their insurance coverage is cut off.”
The bills now go to the Republican-controlled Senate for consideration. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, speaking at a news conference after the House action, said Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, would sign the bills if they reach his desk.
“Those weren’t just Democratic bills. Those were bipartisan pieces of legislation,” Davis said. “It is time for the Senate Republican caucus to act.”
Davis said the administration of President Donald Trump “works every day” to undermine the ACA. Several days ago, Democratic National Committee Chairman Kenneth Martin said the ACA was passed into law 15 years ago, but the Trump administration’s statements and actions threaten its existence.
“If Trump gets his way, Americans with pre-existing conditions could lose critical protections, prescription drug costs and premiums would go through the roof, and uninsured rates would skyrocket,” Martin said.
Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana and the Senate majority leader, said Democrats who view their votes as a “message” to Washington, D.C., should remember that the biggest message to Washington was sent in the November election. “We now have a change agent in the White House,” Pittman said, adding that President Trump is “focused on figuring out a better path forward.”
The top Republican in the House, Minority Leader Jesse Topper of Bedford County, said, “Cutting and pasting federal law for codification at the state level is rarely ever good public policy.”
White House spokesperson Kush Desai pointed to a Trump executive order on price transparency in the health care system.
“Pennsylvania Democrats should spend more time working with the Trump administration to implement the America First agenda that Americans, including Pennsylvanians, resoundingly voted for instead of playing pointless political theater,” Desai said.
The four-bill package promoted by House Democrats would prevent insurers from capping coverage for essential benefits; ensure parents can keep children on their policies until they turn 26; protect coverage for pre-existing conditions; and require health insurers to cover preventative care without cost-sharing.
Among the Republicans who joined Democrats in support of all four bills were Reps. Natalie Mihalek, Valerie Gaydos, and Jeremy Shaffer, all of Allegheny County. Also joining with Democrats in support on the pre-existing conditions bill and on the preventative health care bill were Rep. Roman Kozak, R-Beaver, and Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Washington.
