U.S. House Passes Repeal of Obamacare

Dr. Bill Smith, Editor, ARRA News Service: Today the House narrowly passed legislation on Thursday to partially repeal and replace Obamacare, giving GOP leadership and the White House a major legislative win after weeks of negotiations with conservative lawmakers who pushed for a tougher bill.

The House voted 217-213 to pass the amended American Health Care Act, after deciding late Wednesday that the votes were there thanks to last-minute changes that appealed to centrists. More at Washington Examiner)

The American Health Care Act is a first step in fixing the current health care law. H.R. 1628 would repeal both the individual and employer mandates prescribed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), while ensuring the federal government provides necessary protections and funding for lower-income Americans and providing coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. The House also passed H.R. 2192 to ensure that Members of Congress are not exempt from these changes to our health care system. Now, the legislation advances to the Senate for consideration.

Update: The American Health Care Act (AHCA) as passed by the House will also defund to Planned Parenthood abortion business. It would eliminate more than $390 million (over 86%) of over $450 million in annual federal funding to Planned Parenthood (PPH), from all mandatory spending programs. The measure also redirects funding to community health centers which outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 20 to 1 and offer a wider array of health care services, but not abortion. AHCA also repeals Obamacare abortion subsidies, adds reforms to give states more flexibility and lower costs, and provides families more options. The bill closes the largest pipeline for federal funding of Planned Parenthood, Medicaid, and it applies as well to the CHIP and the Title V and Title XX block grant programs. Importantly, the bill ensures Obamacare will not fund abortions.

Following passage of the bill, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) stated: “Last night, Aetna—one of the Nation’s largest insurers—made the announcement it would be pulling out of the ACA exchanges in the state of Virginia. Some counties in Arkansas also now only have one insurance option and, in September 2016, we saw a 25 percent average increase in premiums on the exchanges. Having one option is not choice and is not suitable. This lack of insurers participating in the exchanges, causing massive price hikes for those in search of affordable insurance, has become a repeating theme over the course of the last few years.

“The status quo is not working for Arkansas and not working for our country. The reform measure that we advanced today will lower the cost of care for individuals and families, provide coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, and shift power back to the states with added flexibility in determining what policies will have the most positive outcomes on their own citizens and populations. What works in Arkansas might not work in California and this bill reflects that important understanding.

“This bill is just one important step in fixing our current health care system and still must undergo review and approval by the Senate before it may be signed into law. We also must continue to work with the administration and the Department of Health and Human Services to stabilize our health insurance markets and work with our colleagues in the House and Senate to enact additional legislative polices that will lower health care costs and increase competition and choices for all Americans.”

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act, a bill to repeal and replace the failed Obamacare law:

“Obamacare has failed the American people and must be repealed and replaced. Today’s vote in the House was an important step. We are now closer to giving our constituents freedom from the increased costs, diminishing choices, and broken promises of Obamacare. I want to congratulate Speaker Ryan, his leadership team, the Republicans who supported this legislation, and President Trump and Vice President Pence for a job well done.

“As Congress considers this legislation, the administration will continue working to deliver relief and stabilize health markets, and Congress will continue to act on legislation to provide more choices and freedom in health care decisions.

“The status quo is unacceptable. The pain caused by Obamacare is real for millions of Americans. We must repeal and replace this failed law.”

Senate consideration will be scheduled following the completion of procedural and budgetary scorekeeping reviews.

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Tags: U.S. House, passes, American Health Care Act, repeals, Obamacare, defunds, 86% PPH funding, Planned Parenthood To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!he bill now goes to the U.S Senate