Republicans Gear Up To Unveil Another ACA Replacement Plan
On Wednesday, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) said House Republicans are preparing to release a wide-ranging replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, which would take a "patient-centered" approach in providing affordable health care without coverage mandates, the Washington Times reports (Howell [1], Washington Times, 6/5).
Details of Bill
Price said the bill would be similar to a plan that he co-sponsored last year, noting that it is part of a "positive" agenda the GOP is pushing to garner support among voters. He added that the measure would "pull the emergency break" on the ACA while moving "forward with a positive solution."
The bill would:
- Incentivize consumers to purchase insurance through tax deductions and advanced tax credits, instead of the ACA's individual insurance mandate;
- Make employer-sponsored health care portable, "like a 401k plan," according to Price;
- Allow uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions to join a risk pool to purchase coverage (Wasson, "On The Money," The Hill, 6/5); and
- Reform malpractice litigation so that plaintiffs face a higher threshold for bringing their claims.
According to the Times, Price's proposal likely will garner approval in the Republican-led House but will face strong opposition from the Democrat-controlled Senate and the White House.
The House already has conducted more than 30 votes to repeal, dismantle or defund the ACA (Howell [2], Washington Times, 6/5).
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