Today, Reproductive Freedom Caucus Vice Chair and Whip Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Reproductive Freedom Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Reproductive Freedom Caucus Vice Chair Norma Torres (CA-35), Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), and Democratic Women’s Caucus Vice Chair Hillary Scholten (MI-03) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., opposing the Trump administration’s proposed rule, CMS-9883-P, which sets Affordable Care Act marketplace standards for 2027.  This rule as proposed will make it more difficult for people in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District and across the country to access quality, affordable health care and essential family planning services.

“This rule fails to address the health care affordability crisis and limits health care options for women and families.  Instead of lowering costs and expanding coverage, this rule reinforces the policies driving Republicans’ manufactured health care crisis,” the members wrote.  “Additionally, this rule escalates attacks on reproductive health care by further destabilizing family planning clinics and their funding.  Women will pay more out-of-pocket costs, experience more difficulty maintaining their coverage, and be forced to navigate less regulated, junk insurance options as a result of this rule.  Women take on 80% of the family's medical decision-making responsibilities, and almost 50% of women view themselves as the chief financial officer of their household.  We urge HHS to abandon the provisions that would drive up health care costs and restrict women’s access to care.”

“By permitting narrower networks that include fewer ECPs (Essential Community Providers), implementation of this rule would reduce access to family planning and threaten the savings family planning services confer for the federal government,” the members continued.  “The impact on family planning alone shows that this rule fails in the mission and purpose of the ACA. Reducing insurer minimum contacting thresholds for ECPs does not lower costs, improve patient choice, or protect the taxpayer. On the contrary, maintaining the 35% minimum contracting threshold and increasing it in future rulemaking  would do all three while improving access to quality care for medically underserved people across the nation.” 

To read the full text of the letter, click here.