The healthcare system is intricate and fraught with problems; several proposals are in the works to address these challenges. Hundreds of bills have been proposed at the federal and state levels. Most People rank healthcare as their top economic concern, highlighting the urgent need for accessible, affordable healthcare options (Singer et al., 2019). As part of the Health Care Affordability Act of 2019, it is suggested that the patient be provided with comprehensive cost information and other relevant financial data.
Many have been unable to afford their medical bills due to the astronomical costs involved since accurate pricing information on medications has not been easily accessible prior to treatment (Keehan et al., 2020). The law also mandates that all parties involved in a healthcare transaction, including the healthcare provider, the patient, and any insurance companies, should all collaborate to ensure the delivery of quality care.
| Health-related Bill Name | Health Care Affordability Act of 2019 |
| Bill Number | H.R. 1868 |
| Description | The Health Care Affordability Act of 2019, or House Resolution 1868 (H.R. 1868), was introduced during the 116th Congress (2019-2020) in the United States of America with the goal of helping people get access to high-quality healthcare at a price they can afford. It does this by modifying the tax credit for low-income earners and cutting healthcare costs. |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative Intent | House Resolution 1868’s Section 2 states that the law was created to help low-income taxpayers whose family income falls within a certain range obtain health insurance at an affordable price (Galvani et al., 2020). It suggests changing the current tax code from 1986. The Illinois representative Lauren Underwood presented H.R. 1868 with the support of 39 other representatives. |
| Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents:Representative Underwood, Lauren |
| Opponents:Government. | |
| Target Population | The bill aims to ensure that all Americans, including those from low-income families, have access to high-quality healthcare at a price they can afford (Martin et al., 2021). The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 34 million Americans were poor in 2019. This subset of the U.S. population is highlighted by these numbers and represents the primary focus of the legislation. |
| Status of the bill (Is it in hearings or committees?) | The Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives is now responsible for considering the legislation; the sponsors must decide what steps to take next. |
| General Notes/Comments | The patient should be provided with full-cost data and other relevant financial information, as proposed in the bill. Guaranteeing universal access to affordable, high-quality healthcare requires the passage of laws aimed at addressing current barriers to providing it (Galvani et al., 2020). However, after these regulations are approved, it is crucial to ensure they are strictly adhered to and fully executed. Every person has the freedom to choose their own healthcare practitioner and their own treatment plan, regardless of how much it may cost. Nonetheless, it is essential to ensure that patients keep getting quality care. Unfortunately, the issues plaguing the United States healthcare system cannot be resolved by simply establishing price structures. Healthcare is a fundamental element of social security. Affordable, high-quality healthcare for all people is a human right. The astronomical price of medical care is one of the biggest problems facing the healthcare industry today. The bill suggests setting payment rates, particularly for persons not covered by insurance, to solve the issue of excessively high medical costs (Vanness et al., 2021). The purpose of the legislation is to give people more information so they may make educated decisions when choosing a healthcare provider and plan. Healthcare providers have been accused of increasing patient costs by simply informing them of other, often more expensive, treatment choices. Most people do not realize there are cheaper therapeutic options available to them. |