Congressman Mackenzie Signs Discharge Petitions on Bipartisan Healthcare Packages

Washington D.C. - Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-7), representing the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos, has joined colleagues in signing discharge petitions on the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act and the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act. These are the two leading bipartisan healthcare reform bills in the U.S. House. Both bills include an extension of enhanced health insurance tax credits alongside commonsense reforms to prevent fraud, improve transparency, and rein in healthcare costs. Congressman Mackenzie is an original cosponsor on both bills.

Last week, Congressman Mackenzie announcedhis support for CommonGround 2025, a bipartisan healthcare framework. A discharge petition allows a majority of House members to bring legislation directly to the floor for a vote outside of the standard process.

"The people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve to see commonsense, bipartisan reforms to our healthcare system, not large price spikes," said Congressman Mackenzie. "As I have made clear for months, Congress should work in a bipartisan way to extend relief for those who need it and implement reforms that will prevent fraud, improve transparency, and rein in costs. As the American people work to recover from the inflation of the Biden years, we cannot ignore the burden placed on millions of families by high healthcare costs."

Authored by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), features of the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act include:

• A two-year extension of Enhanced Premium Tax Credits (EPTCs) for those making less than 700% of the federal poverty line ($109K for individuals and $225K for families)
• Senator Ron Wyden's (D-OR) Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, which reins in rogue healthcare brokers who abuse taxpayer-funded benefits
• An extension of open enrollment to March 1st, 2026
• Reforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid, and a requirement that 100% of rebates reach their intended beneficiaries
• Expanded access to healthcare savings accounts (HSAs)

Authored by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), features of the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Actinclude:

• A one-year extension of EPTCs for those making less than 1000% of the federal poverty line with a phaseout beginning at 600%.
• Senator Ron Wyden's (D-OR) Insurance Fraud Accountability Act, which reins in rogue healthcare brokers who abuse taxpayer-funded benefits.
• An extension of open enrollment until March 19th, 2026.
• Reforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), including a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid, and a requirement that 100% of rebates reach their intended beneficiaries

See the discharge petition for the Bipartisan Health Insurance Affordability Act HERE

See the discharge petition for the CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act HERE

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