5 Bipartisan Healthcare Bills in Congress Now

The debate over healthcare reform is starting to heat up again after Senate Republicans added a repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate — which requires people to buy health insurance or pay a penalty — to their tax reform legislation.

While the proposed repeal of the individual mandate splits Congress along party-lines, there are a handful of issues in healthcare policy where there’s some unity. Here’s a look at five bipartisan healthcare reform bills in Congress now:

Introduced by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), the Forty Hours Is Full Time Act would change the definition of "full time employee" as a person working at least 40 hours per week on average. Currently, Obamacare defines a full time employee as working at least 30 hours per week and employers are mandated to offer such workers health insurance.

Introduced by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and cosponsored by seven Democrats, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act would eliminate Obamacare’s so-called "Cadillac tax" which imposes a 40 percent tax on high-cost, employer-sponsored health insurance plans. It’s set to take effect in 2020 after Congress voted in 2015 to delay it by two years.

Introduced by Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) and cosponsored by 260 House lawmakers (including 39 Democrats), the Protect Medical Innovation Act would repeal the 2.3 percent tax on medical devices. Policymakers are concerned that the tax would be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices, leading Congress to delay its implementation through the end of 2017.

Introduced by Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and boasting 173 cosponsors (including nine Democrats), this legislation would repeal the annual fee imposed on health insurance providers by Obamacare. The fee provides funding for subsidies received by low-income enrollees, but detractors argue that it raises costs for insurance who then raise prices on consumers to pay for it.

Introduced by Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) and cosponsored by 270 lawmakers — including 45 Democrats — the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act would eliminate the Independent Patient Advisory Board (IPAB) that was created by Obamacare to suggest and implement Medicare cuts if Congress doesn’t act. The IPAB isn’t expected to be triggered because of the Medicare budget situation until 2021, but the House voted 307-111 to repeal the IPAB early in November 2017.

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— Eric Revell

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