Marshall Targets $150 Billion in ACA-Driven Healthcare Costs with New Bill

Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas told Newsmax Wednesday that a new Republican healthcare proposal, led by Senators Mike Crapo and Bill Cassidy, aims to reverse escalating costs and structural failures created under the Affordable Care Act.

The legislation, known as the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, was discussed by Marshall during an appearance on “Rob Schmitt Tonight.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune reportedly indicated that the Senate will vote on the Crapo-Cassidy bill alongside a Democratic proposal to extend enhanced ACA tax credits on Thursday.

Marshall, a physician and member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, stated the bill is designed to “put patients in charge, not insurance companies.” He argued that Obamacare funnels “$150 billion a year to insurance companies” while leaving consumers with higher premiums and fewer choices.

The Crapo-Cassidy plan would redirect a portion of existing federal subsidies into health savings accounts, giving individuals direct control over some funds managed by insurers.

Marshall said the shift would foster greater competition and transparency. “We want to give you choices, put you in control, and we think that’s going to drive down the cost of healthcare for everybody,” he stated.

Marshall identified complexity within the ACA as a central cause of rising costs, noting it allows hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, and insurers to obscure prices.

Citing a group of 40 economists, he said mandatory price disclosures — an initiative he is advocating for inclusion — could save the nation “$1 trillion annually” and reduce family health costs by “$1,000 per month.”

He also highlighted broader demographic challenges, noting that an aging population and high rates of chronic illness have strained the healthcare system.

“America, to be honest, is a sick nation,” Marshall said, adding that conditions such as diabetes and heart disease consume roughly 90% of national healthcare spending.

Marshall emphasized that long-term budget stability requires both pricing reforms and public health improvements.

Even if the Crapo-Cassidy legislation faces delays, Marshall indicated Republicans will continue pushing for price transparency measures with growing bipartisan support. “Obamacare gave us these problems. We’re trying to fix it,” he said. “We’re going to keep pushing our price tag bill, and we’ve got good bipartisan support.”