Scott Named “Champion of Healthcare Innovation” for Work to Pass the PACE Act

Washington – In recognition for his commitment to finding policy solutions that positively impact the lives of individuals and families, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) was named a “Champion of Healthcare Innovation” by the Healthcare Leadership Council. Each year, the Healthcare Leadership Council, a coalition of the nation’s leading health care companies and organizations, recognizes lawmakers for their ongoing support of patient-centered medical progress.

“Every family across the country should have access to high quality healthcare that puts them in the driver’s seat, not the government bureaucrats in Washington. As I work to repeal and replace Obamacare, I am proud to have sponsored legislation preventing a dangerous expansion of the failed law,” said Senator Scott. “My PACE Act ensures small and mid-sized businesses in South Carolina and across America are not faced with drastic premium increases as a result of the Affordable Care Act.”

Scott continued, “Today’s honor from the Healthcare Leadership Council is a reminder that when lawmakers focus on working together and creating a patient-centered healthcare system, we can continue to make progress.”

Since joining the U.S. Senate in 2013, as a member of key committees with jurisdiction over healthcare, including the Senate Health Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Scott has worked with his colleagues to ensure Obamacare’s impact on individuals, families, the medical profession and businesses is minimized. In 2015, Senator Scott was the lead Senate sponsor for the Protecting Affordable Care for Employees (PACE) Act, which President Obama signed into law. The measure allows states to maintain the current small group market definition, which applies to businesses with up to 50 employees, in order to prevent premium increases and disruption for small and mid-sized businesses.

Prior to passage of the PACE Act, the Affordable Care Act called for the definition of the state based small group markets to change from 50 to include employers with up to 100 employees on January 1, 2016. This change would have required many small and mid-sized businesses to be subject to different rating rules and requirements, with the potential of increasing the health insurance premiums for small businesses, their employees and their families.

Senator Tim Scott receiving the “Champion of Healthcare Innovation” award from Healthcare Leadership Council President , Mary R. Grealy