{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases/miller-meeks-leads-republican-plan-lower-healthcare-costs-all-americans", "Miller-Meeks Leads Republican Plan to Lower Healthcare Costs for All Americans", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Mariannette Miller-Meeks", "M001215", "millermeeks.house.gov", "millermeeks", "https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), a physician and the only former State Director of Public Health in Congress, alongside House Republican Leadership released the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act \u2014 legislation that lowers health care premiums, increases health care access, expands health care choices, and brings greater transparency to America\u2019s health care system. The legislation will be considered in the House next week.\n\n\u201cFor more than a decade, working Americans have been stuck with rising costs and fewer choices under the so-called Affordable Care Act,\u201d said Dr. Miller-Meeks. \u201cAs a physician, I\u2019ve seen what that means for families: sky-high premiums, out-of-pocket costs they can\u2019t afford, and limited access to care. This bill is about reversing that trend. We\u2019re delivering lower premiums, more choices, PBM transparency, and a stronger marketplace for ALL Americans.\"\n\n\u201cNearly 15 years ago, the Democrats\u2019 Unaffordable Care Act broke the American health care system. Since its inception, premium costs have skyrocketed, networks have shrunk, and the system has become bloated, inefficient, and riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. While Democrats demand that taxpayers write bigger checks to insurance companies to hide the cost of their failed law, House Republicans are tackling the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore integrity to our nation\u2019s health care system for all Americans,\u201d Speaker Mike Johnson said. \u201cEarlier this year, Democrats had a chance to help make life more affordable by supporting the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation. Instead, they voted to raise taxes, protect waste and fraud, and continue providing free health care to illegal immigrants. Democrats\u2019 \u2018affordability\u2019 charade has gone on long enough. Republicans are offering clear, responsible alternatives that will lower premium costs and increase access and health care options for all Americans. The Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act will actually deliver affordable health care \u2013 and we look forward to advancing it through the House.\u201d\n\nThe Lower Health Care Premiums for All Act:\n\nLowers Premiums for all Americans\n\nPharmacy Benefit Manager Transparency: Requires PBMs to provide employers with detailed data on prescription drug spending, rebates, spread pricing, and formulary decisions\u2014empowering plans and workers with the transparency they deserve.\n\nAppropriates Cost Sharing Reduction Payments: Provides necessary funding for CSR payments beginning in 2027, lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual market while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. Relief would be better directed towards low-income enrollees that need them.\n\nImproves Health Care Options for America\u2019s Workers\n\nAssociation Health Plans: Expands access to Association Health Plans by allowing employers\u2014including self-employed workers\u2014to band together across industries to purchase affordable, high-quality coverage.\n\nAccess to Stop-Loss Insurance: Ensures small and mid-sized employers can protect themselves from catastrophic claims by clarifying that stop-loss insurance is not \u201chealth insurance coverage.\u201d This would allow small businesses to offer their employees more tailored, affordable care.\n\nCHOICE Arrangements: Codifies and strengthens 2019 rules allowing employers to offer defined contributions for employees to purchase their own coverage\u2014renamed as CHOICE arrangements\u2014and permits employees to pay premiums pre-tax.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://millermeeks.house.gov/media/press-releases/miller-meeks-leads-republican-plan-lower-healthcare-costs-all-americans"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8200778868049383, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}