April 2017

The White House is urging the House of Representatives to consider, as early as next week, a second attempt at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

While the legislative language has not yet been made public, media reports indicate that new legislative package would keep the reductions in Medicaid expansion included in the earlier repeal and replace bill, but would also give states the ability to seek a federal waiver from providing ACA Essential Health Benefits so long as the state is seeking to, "reduce premium costs, increase the number of persons with healthcare coverage, or advance another benefit to the public interest in the state."  The new proposal would reportedly allow states to waive community rating restrictions on age and health condition, so long as states create a high risk pool of stabilized insurance for patients with high cost illnesses to participate in.

While the White House appears to be pushing for House action as early as next week, Congress is likely to focus its attention next week on passing funding legislation to prevent a shutdown of the federal government.

The ATS will continue to monitor the ACA repeal and replace efforts and will continue to advocate for policy that expands health insurance for all Americans.