Posted on Friday, November 21, 2025
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by The Association of Mature American Citizens
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This week, Congressmen Daniel Webster (R-FL) and Greg Steube (R-FL) reintroduced the Helping Everyone Access Long Term Healthcare (HEALTH) Act, which provides a tax deduction to healthcare providers for pro bono health services to low-income Americans. As debate over the future of healthcare policy takes center stage on Capitol Hill, the HEALTH Act – first championed by late AMAC Founder Dan Weber – is a simple yet powerful bipartisan tool that could lead to better health outcomes for millions of Americans.
The HEALTH Act offers an innovative solution to one of the most persistent problems in American healthcare: lack of access to primary care. Today, roughly 92 million Americans depend on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), yet many struggle to find a family doctor willing to see them. Because of burdensome paperwork, low reimbursement rates, and red tape, many physicians have stopped accepting Medicaid patients altogether.
As a result, too many low-income Americans forgo routine checkups and end up in hospitals when illness strikes. According to research, 44 percent of Medicaid patients visit the emergency room each year – almost four times the rate of those with private insurance.
By providing doctors with a straightforward tax deduction for pro bono medical services, the HEALTH Act would remove administrative barriers while expanding access to care. The concept is simple: instead of filing extensive Medicaid or CHIP claims for a minimal reimbursement, physicians could choose to treat eligible patients at no cost and deduct the value of that service on their taxes. The bill rewards charity and compassion while reducing paperwork for doctors and saving billions for taxpayers.
As AMAC CEO and AMAC Action Chairwoman Rebecca Weber explained, “AMAC Action proudly supports the HEALTH Act, which allows physicians to deduct pro bono care for CHIP and Medicaid-eligible patients. This commonsense reform gives American citizens access to timely primary care and also supports physicians who struggle with the complexity of the Medicaid and CHIP reimbursement systems, relieving pressure on emergency rooms and strengthening care in the communities where it is needed most.”
The impact of such reform could be transformative. Nearly 40 percent of U.S. physicians already provide some level of free or reduced-cost care, but current tax law only allows deductions for services rendered through registered charities – not through private practices. The HEALTH Act would correct that inequity and unleash enormous untapped potential in the medical community.
Studies show that if just seven million of the roughly 20 million emergency-room visits made annually by Medicaid patients were replaced with non-hospital visits, taxpayers would save about $6.5 billion each year. Eliminating the administrative costs that plague Medicaid billing could save an additional $2.8 billion annually in primary-care visits alone.
Just as importantly, the HEALTH Act strengthens the doctor-patient relationship. Instead of navigating bureaucratic hurdles or third-party reimbursement systems, doctors could treat low-income patients directly, building the trust and continuity of care that lead to better long-term health outcomes. For patients with chronic conditions, this consistent access to a primary-care physician can mean earlier detection, better management, and fewer hospitalizations – all without costing taxpayers a dime.
At a time when Americans are struggling with rising premiums and a healthcare debate dominated by calls for bigger government and higher subsidies, the HEALTH Act should stand out as a rare opportunity for bipartisan agreement. It expands care without expanding bureaucracy. It rewards generosity rather than dependence. And it reminds Washington that the most effective solutions come not from federal agencies, but from empowering individuals and communities to help one another.
The idea behind this reform has deeply human roots. The late Dan Weber, founder of AMAC, was moved to act after a personal experience that revealed just how broken the system had become.
During a summer trip to upstate New York, Weber took his child to a local emergency room and was stunned by the long lines of people waiting for care. As he spoke with those around him, he discovered many were there simply because they had no access to a family doctor – most physicians in the area had stopped accepting Medicaid patients. Then came a tragedy that stuck with him for the rest of his life: a young mother arrived whose baby had died of whooping cough, an illness that could have been treated easily if she’d had access to a pediatrician.
Dan Weber never forgot that child. Out of that heartbreaking encounter came his determination to make sure no family would ever face the same situation again. The HEALTH Act was born from that conviction – a belief that America’s doctors should be free to help those in need without being punished by the tax code.
Though Dan passed away in 2020, his legacy continues to guide AMAC’s work. The HEALTH Act is not just another policy proposal; it is a reflection of the principles that defined his life – faith, compassion, and a commitment to improving the lives of everyday Americans. From the beginning, AMAC played an instrumental role in developing and advancing this legislation, working closely with Rep. Webster and other leaders in Congress to transform Weber’s vision into actionable reform.
As Rep. Webster noted, “This bill helps more Americans have access to the care they need, from the doctor they choose, at a price they can afford.” Rep. Steube added that the HEALTH Act “will honor [doctors’] contributions by creating a tax deduction for the charity care they provide to lower-income families and children. Not only will this reaffirm our country’s support for those who give back, but it will expand access to quality healthcare for families in need.”
AMAC applauds Representatives Webster and Steube for leading this effort and urges Congress to move quickly toward passage. At a time when partisan divides dominate nearly every issue, the HEALTH Act offers a rare opportunity for unity – a practical, compassionate reform that embodies the best of America’s spirit.
AMAC and its 2.2 million members remain committed to seeing this bill across the finish line so that Dan Weber’s vision – helping everyone access care without unduly burdening taxpayers – can finally become a reality.
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