Health-care bill evolving, improving

Recently, I voted in support of the House-passed American Health Care Act (AHCA) to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Though it is not a perfect bill, it is a first step in fixing the issues of the bureaucracy and the out-of-control costs of the ACA. The contentious debate that has surrounded this legislation has led to misinformation about what is in the bill. It is time to set the record straight.

First and foremost, the AHCA works to protect people with pre-existing conditions. If you have a pre-existing condition and maintain continuous coverage, you cannot be rated based on your health status. And, if your ability to pay for insurance changes — like losing your job — there is an $8 billion fund to help you pay your premiums.

Even for states that opt for a limited waiver to the law can do so only if they have set up risk-sharing or re-insurance programs. These programs will reimburse the person's insurance company for excessive use of health care due to illness and should help reduce insurance premiums for everyone.

Instead of placing a tax and mandate on individuals and businesses like the ACA, this legislation encourages people to buy insurance by providing protections for those who maintain their coverage and rewards them by making sure they cannot be denied coverage.

Finally, it is important to remember that this is merely one step in delivering a quality, accessible health-care system. The bill now moves to the Senate and continues in the legislative process. I hope it will continue to improve during this process to provide affordable access to quality care for the American people.

Rep. Steve Stivers Congressional District 15Upper Arlington