{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397794", "75-plus House Members Oppose Proposed Rule  Allowing Secret Abortion Surcharge in Obamacare", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and over 75 Members of Congress have filed a comment \u200bletter with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing the abortion aspects of the proposed rule on \u201cHHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2016\u201d for the Obamacare marketplace. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Specifically the lawmakers object to the rule\u2019s section on \u201cSegregation of Funds for Abortion Services,\u201d which they say ensures that the abortion surcharge (required for all Exchange plans that cover abortion) will remain hidden from consumers. \n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 In their letter they note \u201c\u2026 it is essential that the administration at least follow the minimal statutory requirements related to the accounting gimmick, often referred to as the Nelson amendment.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the proposed rule does the opposite by actually telling issuers how to avoid the requirements outlined in the ACA\u2026under the proposed rule, the surcharge is not billed separately and will likely be all but invisible to the consumer. The text of the law and the legislative history is clear. The abortion surcharge must be a separate payment.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The comment period on the proposed rule closes December 22. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe Obama Administration\u2019s cover-up of abortion insurance plans on the exchange is unnecessary, unacceptable and absolutely unconscionable,\u201d said Smith co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. \u201cConsumers have a right to know. Abortion is not healthcare \u2013 it dismembers and chemically poisons defenseless unborn children and hurts women. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPresident Obama\u2019s solemn promise not fund abortion on demand continues to be broken with impunity. For 2014 the GAO found that over 1000 plans included abortion on demand.\u00a0 Research by ObamacareAbortion.com has shown that for 2015 abortion coverage continues, and once again health consumers are left almost clueless as to which plans fund abortion on demand and which do not. Furthermore, no information about the abortion surcharge is provided to consumers while shopping for Obamacare coverage.\u201d \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt is a shame that the administration that claims to be the most transparent in history has failed to provide this basic information to consumers\u2014despite multiple inquires by Congress in the past.\u00a0 The language in the explanatory statement of the recently-passed \u201cCRomnibus\u201d spending bill is a modest step in the right direction by calling on Secretary Burwell to ensure \u201cfull transparency\u201d to consumers \u201cprior to plan purchase\u201d and requires a timeline for clarifying guidance to be submitted within 30 days. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI hope this language will finally motivate the administration to take action to provide total and complete transparency regarding abortion coverage and the abortion surcharge. If they do not, it will be incumbent on Congress to take further action in the coming year. When the new Congress convenes in January I will reintroduce the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act to remove abortion from Obamacare and ensure transparency in the interim.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397794"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.385766012594104, "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"}