Washington
“Unrealistic may be a strong word, but it is a super-large task,” Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., said when asked about past GOP promises to quickly deliver legislation repealing Obama’s overhaul and replacing it. “We’re getting there; we’re getting closer.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters following Thursday’s closed-door meeting that after Congress’ upcoming weeklong recess, “We intend to introduce legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare.” He provided no details.
For nearly seven years, Republicans have voted repeatedly to repeal the law that has expanded coverage to some 20 million Americans, but they have been unable to agree on a replacement.
Among the options discussed at the Republicans’ closed-door meeting was repealing some or all of the $1.1 trillion in taxes over 10 years that Obama’s overhaul imposed to help finance its expansion of health coverage. In its place, Ryan is proposing taxing the value of high-cost health insurance provided by employers — an idea that is certain to draw opposition from some Republicans who have long refused to vote for tax increases.
According to a document distributed to lawmakers and obtained by The Associated Press, Republicans would phase out the expansion of Medicaid to additional poor people that Obama’s law enacted. Thirty-one states received extra federal money for doing that. During the phase-out period the other 19 states would also receive additional money.
Eventually, states would be given a choice of receiving either a lump sum payment of federal funds or an amount that varies based on the number of Medicaid beneficiaries they have.
“Instead of expanding a broken program, Republicans instead want to put states in charge of their Medicaid programs,” the document says.
Medicaid remains among the most contentious parts of the GOP plan, with battles pitting states against each other sure to come as details of the legislation are decided.
Republicans would eliminate the tax penalties Obama’s law imposes on people who don’t buy insurance and the subsidies the government provides to most people buying policies on the online marketplaces the statute established. In their place, there would be refundable tax credits and health savings accounts people could use to help afford coverage — proposals Democrats have mocked as inadequate.
Refundable credits mean that even people with low or no income would receive checks from the IRS. That has drawn opposition from conservative Republicans who say that system invites fraud.
Health Secretary Tom Price, until last week a member of the House himself, addressed the lawmakers and told them President Donald Trump would give them strong backing during the effort.