U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement on the discussion draft of the Senate health care bill:

“Year after year, Missouri families have had to worry about their health plans being canceled, their options and access being taken away, and their premiums going up. In our state, 25 counties have no companies willing to offer health care coverage on the exchanges next year and premiums are up 145 percent, on average, since 2013. The status quo is far from what was promised and it is unsustainable.

“The draft health care legislation preserves access to care for people with pre-existing conditions, strengthens Medicaid and does not change Medicare, gives people more health insurance choices, and allows people to stay on their family health insurance plan until they are 26.

“Members of both parties will have an opportunity to offer amendments as the process moves forward. I will carefully review the final legislation with a focus on how it will help address the problems Missourians are facing under Obamacare. American families need a more reliable and affordable health care system, and this bill takes important steps in that direction.”