WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today voted with a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation that would prevent current efforts to strip healthcare protections from Central Virginians with pre-existing conditions.

The Spanberger supported Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions Act would immediately rescind the administration’s guidance regarding protections for people with pre-existing conditions in State Innovation Waivers. Additionally, the bill would prevent the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury Department from issuing any similar guidance or rule in the future.

“Last week, the administration continued its misguided crusade to dismantle our healthcare system and gut protections for those with pre-existing medical conditions. Instead of the administration’s reckless, partisan lawsuit, we need to pursue true, bipartisan fixes that can lower costs, protect working families, and stabilize the existing healthcare law,” said Spanberger. “Today, I’m proud to stand with thousands of Central Virginians with pre-existing conditions—ranging from those with asthma to those with childhood diseases. This legislation makes clear that it’s wrong to take away lifesaving protections from these neighbors who absolutely depend on them. I’ve long spoken out against the administration’s attempts to gut the existing healthcare law—and I’ll keep fighting in the House to protect affordable coverage for working families, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities.”

The Protecting Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions is led by U.S. Representatives Ann Kuster (D-NH), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Joe Courtney (D-CT). Specifically, the bill would rescind guidance on administration-issued Section 1332 waivers, which currently allow states to weaken protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

In a brief filed last week, the U.S. Department of Justice argued in favor of striking down the entire existing healthcare law—including critical protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. When the administration announced its renewed push to dismantle the U.S. healthcare system in March 2019, Spanberger immediately spoke out strongly against these efforts.

Background

Spanberger has continued to push back against the partisan healthcare sabotage that has caused premiums and uninsured rates to rise across the country.

Last month, she voted in support of a bipartisan resolution to condemn the administration’s active legal campaign to gut the existing healthcare law. Following the vote, she spoke on the floor of the U.S. House to outline how the administration’s efforts—if successful—would wipe out critical healthcare protections for Central Virginians. 

And in the days following the administration’s announcement, Spanberger helped introduce legislation to lower health insurance premiums, protect Central Virginians with pre-existing conditions, and stabilize the Affordable Care Act. The bill would improve and expand healthcare affordability—and the legislation would also strengthen tax credits, improve marketplace stability, and stop insurance companies from selling junk insurance plans.

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