TPA Urges Healthcare Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) urged lawmakers to reject both Senate healthcare-related proposals being voted on today and embrace more market- and taxpayer-friendly reforms. The Senate is expected to vote today on legislation—the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act of 2025—introduced by Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.)—that would convert enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) subsidies into health savings account (HSA) deposits. Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed a three-year extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which would continue to go toward ACA-compliant health insurance plans offered on exchanges.

In response to these proposals, Ross Marchand, Senior Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, offered the following comment:

“Both of these proposals being offered today miss the mark. The government spends around $100 billion of taxpayer money per year on Obamacare exchange subsidies. This red ink only drives premiums higher for hard-working Americans. Whether these subsidies are funneled directly to large insurers or deposited into HSAs, current spending levels and government involvement are far too high. With the national debt at $38 trillion (and counting) and inflation stubbornly high, throwing more money at high healthcare costs is not what the doctor ordered.

“The good news is there are far better approaches to healthcare reform offered by policymakers. Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) Health Marketplace and Savings Accounts for All Act would dramatically expand the availability of HSAs, giving all Americans access to tax-free accounts. The legislation would also expand Association Health Plans to make it easier for Americans to use group leverage to keep costs down. TPA also supports commonsense regulatory reforms, such as ending the cap on physician-owned hospitals, reforming the Stark law, embracing Medicare site neutrality, allowing Americans to buy insurance across state lines, and pushing states to roll back certificate of need laws.

“The healthcare status-quo is unsustainable. TPA hopes that the Senate will reject both proposals being considered today and embrace Sen. Paul’s plan along with much-needed regulatory reform.”