Representatives Scott DesJarlais, MD, (R-Tenn.) and Phil Roe, MD, (R-Tenn.), have introduced legislation to prevent the enactment of an IRS rule that offers premium tax credits for both state-based health exchanges and ones operated by the federal government.
The Congressmen say the IRS rule "substantially alters" the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's ability to offer premium assistance tax credits through federally run insurance exchanges. According to the IRS' website, "Starting in 2014, individuals and families can take a new premium tax credit to help them afford health insurance coverage purchased through an affordable insurance exchange. Exchanges will operate in every state and the District of Columbia."
In November, Representatives Roe and DesJarlais sent a letter to the Commissioner of the IRS, Douglas Shulman, asking him to amend the IRS regulation regarding federal health insurance tax credits because it "contradicts the explicit statutory language from the Affordable Care Act."
The Tennessee Congressmen have introduced the legislation to block the IRS' final rule because they say the rule is not authorized by statute in the PPACA.
Many states have yet to set up a health exchange — and a majority of states may not have one in place by 2014, when the IRS tax credit kicks in. Blocking the IRS credit for federally run exchanges could affect millions of Americans seeking aid for paying health insurance premiums, since HHS will set up a federally run health insurance exchange in states that choose to not implement their own by January 2014.
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The Congressmen say the IRS rule "substantially alters" the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's ability to offer premium assistance tax credits through federally run insurance exchanges. According to the IRS' website, "Starting in 2014, individuals and families can take a new premium tax credit to help them afford health insurance coverage purchased through an affordable insurance exchange. Exchanges will operate in every state and the District of Columbia."
In November, Representatives Roe and DesJarlais sent a letter to the Commissioner of the IRS, Douglas Shulman, asking him to amend the IRS regulation regarding federal health insurance tax credits because it "contradicts the explicit statutory language from the Affordable Care Act."
The Tennessee Congressmen have introduced the legislation to block the IRS' final rule because they say the rule is not authorized by statute in the PPACA.
Many states have yet to set up a health exchange — and a majority of states may not have one in place by 2014, when the IRS tax credit kicks in. Blocking the IRS credit for federally run exchanges could affect millions of Americans seeking aid for paying health insurance premiums, since HHS will set up a federally run health insurance exchange in states that choose to not implement their own by January 2014.
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