Following KREM 2's interview with Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, many viewers argued over the accuracy of a claim she made in response to a question about healthcare. She said she had not voted for healthcare legislation without protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
This became the source of debate because of her vote for the American Health Care Act of 2017 (AHCA). The bill was intended to replace the Affordable Care Act, but didn't end up becoming law. There was great debate surrounding the bill, and whether it would lead some Americans to lose coverage (including individuals with pre-existing conditions).
To verify whether or not Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' claim was accurate, KREM 2 consulted Elizabeth Wood, who works on healthcare policy research for Washington State University in Spokane.
Technically, the claim was accurate. The AHCA included the MacArthur amendment, which said companies couldn't limit access to individuals with pre-existing conditions.
However, individual states could obtain waivers from some protections if they could show it would lead to lower average premium costs or increase overall enrollment. In states with waivers, insurance companies could charge people more if they let their coverage lapse for more than 60 days, and Wood said these higher prices could have pushed people away from getting coverage.
"To protect people with conditions, you need to make sure they can't be rejected and make sure they can actually afford coverage," Wood said.
KREM 2 reached out to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' office for a response to this concern. Spokesman Jared Powell said the higher prices in states with waivers would have been applied regardless of a person's health status, and the intent was to keep individuals from lapsing in their coverage.
"Cathy remains committed to ensuring those with pre-existing conditions cannot be charged more or denied coverage," Powell said. "In any further health care reform efforts, she will continue to fight for access for those with pre-existing conditions."