04/27/2017

House ACA Repeal Compromise Gains Support

The compromised bill caters to the wants of the Freedom Caucus

House Republicans are floating a new amendment to their health care bill that would allow states to opt out of central consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), provided the states offer an alternative proposal that lowers premiums or provides for greater competition among health insurance providers.

Yesterday, the amendment won support from the Freedom Caucus, a House Congressional caucus consisting of conservative and libertarian members who support limited government. The Freedom Caucus had withheld support from the earlier plan, dubbed the American Health Care Act, to repeal and replace the ACA. House leaders had to pull their healthcare bill from a floor vote in March because they did not have enough support from conservative or moderate Republicans.

The Freedom Caucus endorsement could push the bill closer to passage.

“While the revised version still does not fully repeal Obamacare, we are prepared to support it to keep our promise to the American people to lower healthcare costs,” said the Freedom Caucus in a statement. “We look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to improve the bill.”

Moderate Republicans are still on the fence with the revised plan out of concern it may be construed as reducing support for constituents with pre-existing conditions.

“The question now is how many people does it take from 'yes' to 'no'," said Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), co-chair of the moderate Republican Tuesday Group.

The compromise necessary to get Freedom Caucus support will also make Senate passage more difficult. Senate Republicans can only afford to lose two votes and still pass the repeal measure.

“I don’t know if this bill is better” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “The worst thing we can do is replace it with a Republican-only alternative that doesn’t drive down costs, that doesn’t improve access to care.”

Democrats seized on language in the new GOP proposal that would allow insurance companies to charge people with pre-existing conditions higher premiums and noted that the plan appears to exempt members of Congress and their staff from potential waivers sought by states.

“Bringing their catastrophic bill back - repackaged but unchanged - will not make it any more likely to pass,” said House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD). “Nor will it make it any less dangerous to the health of the American people.”

Democrats have openly stated that they won't support any changes that impact the number of Americans with pre-existing conditions currently receiving healthcare support.  

This article was provided to OSAE by The Power of A.