House GOP details health plan for vote next week
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House Republicans unveiled details of their health care plan Friday ahead of planned votes next week.
Why it matters: The plan does not include an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. Instead, there are other GOP ideas aimed at lowering health care costs.
- House GOP leadership aides said they also expect a vote on an amendment to extend the ACA subsidies in some form.
- While the details are still being worked out, the ACA extension is unlikely to pass, since Democrats are still pushing for a "clean" extension, not one with GOP-backed reforms attached.
- Many Republicans oppose any kind of subsidy extension.
What's inside: The underlying GOP plan includes a measure to expand association health plans, which allow employers to band together to purchase coverage.
- Another provision would impose new transparency measures on pharmacy benefit managers, aimed at lowering drug costs.
- The plan also funds ACA cost-sharing reduction payments, which would lower overall premiums in ACA markets but also have the effect of cutting the subsidies that some enrollees receive.
- The plan also includes a GOP measure aimed at easing the ability for small businesses to purchase health coverage.
Between the lines: House Republicans did not include a Senate GOP plan that would have provided $1,000 to $1,500 in health savings accounts, as an alternative to a subsidy extension.
- GOP aides said further health proposals could get House votes early next year.
The big picture: Even if House Republicans muster enough votes to advance a plan, it is likely to die in the Senate, where proposals would need 60 votes and Democratic buy-in.
- Democrats still insist a subsidy extension is the answer to avert a steep rise in out-of-pocket premiums for millions of ACA enrollees in the new year.
- House Republicans argue that their plan would also help people outside of the ACA markets who get insurance through employers.
The bottom line: The ACA subsidies are still likely to expire at the end of the year, but the votes will give House Republicans a chance to say they did put forward their own health care plan.
