House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has emphasized that House Republicans are preparing ideas to address rising healthcare costs once the government shutdown concludes. Speaking to Newsmax, Johnson highlighted that Republicans want to focus on reforms that lower premiums and improve affordability. He noted that the pandemic-era subsidies included in the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at the end of the year, making it an urgent issue for lawmakers.
Johnson explained that House Republicans had previously included provisions in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act aimed at reducing healthcare premiums. According to him, these measures could have lowered costs by an estimated 12.7%, but were removed during negotiations with Democrats. He stressed that the goal is to target the root causes of high healthcare costs rather than relying solely on subsidies, which he believes do not address the underlying challenges in the system.
The Speaker also mentioned that the Senate has advanced a bipartisan proposal to fund the government through January 30, though a final vote is still pending. He encouraged lawmakers to return to Washington to participate in upcoming votes and discussions. Johnson emphasized the importance of collaboration to achieve solutions that benefit Americans, noting that both parties will need to find consensus to move forward effectively.
Johnson concluded by reiterating that Republicans are committed to presenting practical ideas to reduce costs and improve the healthcare system. He stressed that educating the public and carefully considering policy reforms are essential steps to ensure affordability and long-term stability in healthcare coverage. The administration plans to continue discussions throughout November and December to prepare actionable proposals.
