With the effort to amend/repeal/replace the Affordable Care Act, we are currently one plan down and one to go. The first attempt to enact a new plan failed to come to vote in the House in March. This week a modified plan has surfaced that some are saying may move closer to being approved. In the below Article you will see some of the major provisions we expect to see vetted over the coming days.
Republicans have a new plan to repeal and replace Obamacare
Thursday, 20 Apr 2017 | 10:26 AM ET by Berkeley Lovelace Jr. – CNBC
Republican lawmakers have a new plan to repeal and replace Obamacare in a bid to bridge the gap between the House Freedom Caucus and moderates, according to a document obtained by CNBC.
A Freedom Caucus source told CNBC the changes to the health bill would secure 25 to 30 “yes” votes from the Freedom Caucus, and the new bill would get “very close” to 216 votes. The source said that 18 to 20 of those “yes” votes would be new.
Here is the document:
MacArthur Amendment to the American Health Care Act – 4/13/17
Insurance Market Provisions
The MacArthur Amendment would:
- Reinstate Essential Health Benefits as the federal standard
- Maintain the following provisions of the AHCA:
– Prohibition on denying coverage due to preexisting medical conditions
– Prohibition on discrimination based on gender
– Guaranteed issue of coverage to all applicants
– Guaranteed renewability of coverage
– Coverage of dependents on parents’ plan up to age 26
– Community Rating Rules, except for limited waivers
Limited Waiver Option
The amendment would create an option for states to obtain Limited Waivers from certain federal standards, in the interest of lowering premium costs and expanding the number of insured persons.
States could seek Limited Waivers for:
- Essential Health Benefits
- Community rating rules, except for the following categories, which are not waivable:
- Gender
- Age (except for reductions of the 5:1 age ratio previously established)
- Health Status (unless the state has established a high risk pool or is participating in a federal high risk pool)
Limited Waiver Requirements
States must attest that the purpose of their requested waiver is to reduce premium costs, increase the number of persons with healthcare coverage, or advance another benefit to the public interest in the state, including the guarantee of coverage for persons with pre-existing medical conditions. The Secretary shall approve applications within 90 days of determining that an application is complete.
CNBC has reached out to the office of House Speaker Paul Ryan about the document.
Earlier this month, Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows said the majority of caucus members will support the new bill if changes offered by the White House are included in the legislation, such as coverage waivers related to community rating protections.
In March, House Republicans pulled their first attempt at a repeal and replacement of Obamacare, dubbed the American Health Care Act, due in large part to opposition from both conservative and moderate Republicans.