Press Releases
Grothman Questions Officials on Impact of Obamacare on Health Insurance Market
Washington,
February 1, 2017
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Bernadette Green
(202-225-2476)
Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) yesterday questioned government officials about the impact of the so-called Affordable Care Act on the health insurance market during a Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Healthcare, Benefits and Administrative Rules Subcommittee hearing. Senior Counselor for Policy for Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Vicki Robinson, Director of Health Care for the U.S. Government Accountability Office John Dicken and Jonathan Siegel, a citizen of Rochester, N.Y., testified at the hearing. Excerpts of Grothman’s Remarks “Mr. Dicken, you told us a little about the number of options Americans have as the number of insurance companies involved has dropped. Can you recite the numbers again for the last couple of years and the number of options? “At this rate, how many plans do you think will be out there for 2018? “Is there any concern that some areas will soon have no insurers? “If we’ve gone down from three or four or five options to one option, it stands to reason that it’s entirely possible that sooner or later we’re going to have no options, right? “Premiums have shot up in this past year, correct? “Can you tell us why the number of insurance companies keeps disappearing? Can you let us know why they’ve left the exchanges? A few years ago, they were gung ho and thought they could make a go of it, now they can’t. What happened? “Ms. Robinson, you looked at the grant funds and reviews by the Inspector General and identified money that needed to be returned to the federal government because it’s not spent in accordance with your requirements. What’s the status of your recommendations for the money that was misspent being refunded to the federal government? “Are they refunding the money?” Click here to watch Grothman’s full line of questioning. Background Enrollment in Obamacare is far below what was initially projected and healthcare costs are rising. Numerous reports have been issued outlining the fraud, waste and abuse that occurred in carrying out the health care law. This fiscal year, the Office of Inspector General will issue reports relating to the health insurance marketplaces and the Medicaid expansion program. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman is serving his second term representing Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. ### |