Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House passed a bill on a party line vote (211-208) that would ban federal health programs from using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), which determine whether treatment for those with disabilities or chronic illnesses is cost-effective enough to be paid for by the government.
The Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act (H.R. 485), authored by Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), deems QALYs as discriminatory.
Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (slang: "Obamacare"), Medicare was banned from using QALYs for rationing care to the elderly. Other federal health programs (Veterans Affairs, Medicaid), QALYs have been used to cut costs in providing care.
"Every human life has value. The government should not be mercilessly placing a dollar value on someone’s life and denying care just because they have a disability or chronic illness," said Rodgers. "Patients, and those who are fighting for their loved ones' lives, have pleaded with Congress to fix a system that actively prevents them from getting the care they need. I’m proud to champion this important legislation that will give patients with disabilities and chronic or rare illness hope.”
The bill, if it were to become law, would put a stop to QALYs and other discriminatory measures across all federal health programs. It is an expansion from the current ban that applies to just Medicare, in a limited capacity.
Congresswoman Rodgers introduced the bill in January 2023. Her son, Cole, was born with a 21st chromosome, a condition known as Down Syndrome.
Every person’s life has value—no patient should ever be denied treatment because of a disability or chronic illness.
I'm leading the Protecting Health Care for All Patients Act to end the use of QALYS and other discriminatory measures in our health care system. pic.twitter.com/GrUuiGK60f
“When Cole was born, doctors gave us a long list of challenges and chances for heartache.
"It was difficult, but I could have never imagined just how positively he would impact this my life, my family's life, and the world.
“Today, Cole is a fun-loving sixteen-year-old with big dreams. He wants to be a football player, a pastor, and a race car driver. He’s on the basketball team and plays the drums.
“For Cole, the sky’s the limit.
“Cole, and others with disabilities, deserve every opportunity to succeed.
“We shouldn’t be discounting their potential or pre-judging their quality of life just because of their disabilities.”
The bill next heads to the Senate for a vote.
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