Health Care

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement in response to the health insurance provider Anthem’s decision to sell individual insurance plans in Virginia, including all jurisdictions of the Ninth Congressional District: “I am appreciative that Anthem reentered the market, ensuring that Southwest Virginians will have an option to purchase health insurance in 2018.… Read more »

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) released the following statement regarding Optima Health’s decision not to participate in the Obamacare individual insurance exchange in the markets of the Ninth Congressional District, leaving residents of the Ninth without any expected options on the exchange for 2018: “This is the collapse of Obamacare I have spoken of for years. Obamacare was built… Read more »

More Chaos on the Obamacare Exchanges The health insurance provider Anthem has decided to stop selling individual insurance plans on Virginia’s Obamacare exchange next year. It will also stop selling off-exchange individual plans, except in Washington and Scott Counties and the City of Bristol. As I write this column, information had not been released as to what individual plans will be… Read more »

Energy and Commerce Update        As you know, I serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Many major domestic policy issues fall under its jurisdiction, from energy to telecommunications to manufacturing to healthcare and health insurance. This means that the committee always has a lot on its plate. I am pleased to report that it’s been hard at work… Read more »

So Now What? The United States Senate is letting down the American people by failing to advance any solution for the disaster that is Obamacare. It has rejected its own repeal and replace plan, it has rejected the 2015 repeal, and in the latest failure, it rejected the “skinny repeal” plan What was the skinny repeal plan? It was a plan to repeal Obamacare’s employer and individual… Read more »

A Win for Religious Freedom On June 26, the Supreme Court ruled in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer, Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources that religious institutions cannot be prevented from receiving funds solely because they are a religious organization.  The case originated in Missouri, where a church applied for funding from the state to replace a… Read more »

Health Insurance: Chapter 1 Last week, the House passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to repeal Obamacare and start a health care reform process to return power to the states, drive down costs, and offer options to American families. Let’s review the current state of health insurance. Across the country, costs have sky rocketed and choices have decreased.  In Iowa, 94 out of 99… Read more »

Health Insurance: Chapter 2  Preexisting Conditions There are many falsehoods being spread about the American Health Care Act (AHCA).    You’ve probably heard Democrats and talking heads on the news warning that those with any preexisting conditions will no longer be able to get health insurance. As Speaker Ryan put it, "Let's remember what is happening right now. Obamacare… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act of 2017, to repeal and replace Obamacare. It passed by a vote of 217-213. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said, “I voted in support of the repeal and replacement of the failed health insurance program known as Obamacare. The new bill guarantees everyone has access to health insurance.  The bill… Read more »

Today, Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Ensuring Seniors Access to Local Pharmacies Act of 2017. This bill amends the Social Security Act so that those on Medicare living in underserved areas can still access community pharmacies. The bill designates those as network pharmacies for Medicare prescription drug coverage and other… Read more »