Repeal Of Individual Mandate Will Likely Make It To Final Version Of Tax Bill, GOP Says
The Senate and House must reconcile their two versions, but it's looking like the long-held Republican goal of repealing the health law's individual mandate will make it into the legislation. Meanwhile, a study finds that bipartisan ACA fixes that were part of the lure to get Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) to support the tax bill would cut premiums by about 18 percent in 2019.
The New York Times:
Tax Bill Is Likely To Undo Health Insurance Mandate, Republicans Say
House and Senate negotiators thrashing out differences over a major tax bill are likely to eliminate the insurance coverage mandate at the heart of the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers say. But a deal struck by Senate Republican leaders and Senator Susan Collins of Maine to mitigate the effect of the repeal has been all but rejected by House Republicans, potentially jeopardizing Ms. Collins’s final yes vote. (Pear and Kaplan, 12/6)
The Hill:
Study: ObamaCare Bills Backed By Collins Would Lower Premiums
Two bipartisan ObamaCare fixes being pushed by GOP Sen. Susan Collins (Maine) would reduce premiums by 18 percent in 2019, according to a new study. The study from Avalere, a consulting firm, finds that the two bills would more than cancel out the projected premium increase from repealing ObamaCare’s mandate that most individuals purchase health insurance. (Sullivan, 12/6)
In other news —
The Washington Post:
Ryan Says Republicans To Target Welfare, Medicare, Medicaid Spending In 2018
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) said Wednesday that congressional Republicans will aim next year to reduce spending on both federal health care and anti-poverty programs, citing the need to reduce America's deficit. “We're going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit,” Ryan said during an appearance on Ross Kaminsky's talk radio show. "... Frankly, it's the health care entitlements that are the big drivers of our debt, so we spend more time on the health care entitlements — because that's really where the problem lies, fiscally speaking.” (Stein, 12/6)
The Hill:
Ryan Pledges 'Entitlement Reform' In 2018
Health-care entitlements such as Medicare and Medicaid “are the big drivers of debt,” Ryan said, “so we spend more time on the health-care entitlements, because that's really where the problem lies, fiscally speaking." Ryan said he’s been speaking privately with President Trump, who is beginning to warm to the idea of slowing the spending growth in entitlements. (Weixel, 12/6)