OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

H.R. Health Equity and Access for Returning Troops and Servicemembers Act of 2018 (Hearts Act)

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 28, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want to state my concerns regarding H.R. 6886 and the process for considering this bill, and the potential unintended consequences for the Medicare program.

The bill seeks to address the unfortunate circumstances under which a servicemember who becomes eligible for Medicare by reason of disability cannot easily return to the TRICARE program if and when the servicemember becomes able to work again.

I am concerned because this bill did not go through regular order, and was not marked up or considered in any committee of the House of Representatives. It represents a significant change to current law and has impacts on both our healthcare system for active and retired service members, and on the Medicare program. To pass such legislation without an open, transparent, and measured process is disservice to the institution of the House of Representatives and to the American people.

The problem with a failure to adhere to regular order is not just a philosophical one but a practical one. Legislation that has not been vetted properly often has unforeseen or unexpected consequences. We have seen that time and time again. I am concerned that this will also be the case with H.R. 6886. I am concerned about disabled servicemembers moving in and out of the Medicare program, and whether they will be fulling informed about the implications of their decision not to enroll in Medicare when they become eligible. I am concerned about the precedent for the Medicare program of folks being able to decline Medicare coverage for other coverage, and how that may undermine the universality of the Medicare program.

I might have been able to be convinced that these concerns could be addressed if we had had a full process with a legislative hearing and a markup, but unfortunately, that is not the case. For these reasons, I must state my concerns regarding this bill and the process we undertook for considering it.

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