House GOP Moderates Under Pressure From Both Sides On Health Care Reform

Federal Health Care Reform

Having locked down the support of most GOP conservatives, House leaders are now working to firm up support from moderate members to pass their newly reconfigured health care plan, but a vote on the measure, however, could still be weeks away.  House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the latest changes to the American Health Care Act that appear to keep most of the ACA's benefit mandates in place, but would allow states to modify or opt out of those requirements through waivers if they create high-risk pools.  The plan under discussion would have very little impact on the self-insured plans typical of HR Policy member companies.  The changes being discussed are directed primarily at the ACA exchange marketplace.  However, it is unclear if the latest changes to the bill will able to bridge the divisions in the House GOP caucus, as moderates are under increasing pressure from the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association, and the American Association of Retired Persons to oppose the revised bill.  Also, with the public's attitude changing regarding the ACA, several GOP moderates who backed earlier versions of the bill are now signaling they are undecided on the revised plan.  Further, the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that a new analysis of the revised bill will not be ready this week or next, and several moderates are likely to have issues with voting on the latest version of the bill without a new CBO "score."  Despite all the activity over the past three weeks, it remains unclear when the House GOP leadership will bring the bill for a vote, but they have said repeatedly they won't do it until it has the support to pass, White House pressure to the contrary notwithstanding.  Even if the House manages to pass a bill, the Senate will likely take a substantially different approach.