Letter to Full Congress Opposing Inclusion of ESRD Provision in Pending Opioid Legislative Package
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
The National Coalition on Benefits (NCB) applauds your successful bipartisan efforts to address the opioids crisis devastating communities across the country. As you work to resolve differences and reach agreement on a final legislative package, the NCB reiterates its strong opposition to the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) provision in the House-passed version of the bill. By extending the amount of time that employer-sponsored plans must cover treatments for ESRD by three months, the House provision would massively shift costs from the government to employers and workers. This change will likely threaten the affordability of health benefits that 181 million Americans enjoy, and counteracts employer efforts to reduce coverage costs. Changes to ESRD and Medicare Secondary Payer rules lead to higher costs for plan sponsors, which translate directly to higher health insurance costs for workers, their families, and retirees. The House ESRD provision will not help address the opioids crisis, will cost employers hundreds of millions of dollars, and should be omitted from the final legislative product.
The NCB is comprised of trade associations representing large and small businesses, as well as employers with operations and employees in all 50 states. We have long supported legislation to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable health coverage. NCB looks forward to working with Congress as you consider proposals to advance our shared goals and objectives for the U.S. health care system: lower costs, improved access, greater transparency, and higher quality.
Sincerely,
The National Coalition on Benefits
Letter to Full Congress Opposing Inclusion of ESRD Provision in Pending Opioid Legislative Package
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