March 9, 2017

Republicans introduced their replacement plan, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which has garnered mixed reviews from within the party and heated opposition from Democrats. In summary, the proposal retains the more popular pieces of the ACA, including retaining individuals on parental coverage until 26 and maintaining coverage for pre-existing conditions, however rolls back the Medicaid expansion and implements age-based tax credits for purchasing healthcare.

The bill passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee on party-line votes last week. We can expect an official scoring from the Congressional Budget Office this week which could have significant impacts on the floor vote in Congress.

As of writing, the Chamber does not have a formal position on the AHCA, however, the Chamber’s Healthcare & Public Policy Committees have adopted the following position regarding proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act:

It is the Chamber’s position that there be no repeal of the Affordable Care Act without an immediate, adequate replacement bill that prioritizes maintenance of expanded coverage, and considers the broader economic impact of healthcare on the local, state and federal levels.

The Chamber has defined an adequate replacement proposal as one that:

• Prioritizes the protection of expanded coverage;
• Does not impose an unreasonable burden on employers;
• Provides flexibility and assurances of stability for businesses and contractors who have participated in the ACA structure as they shift into compliance determined by new policies; and
• Modifies or eliminates duplicative, excessive, antiquated and contradictory regulations that drive up costs, divert resources from patient care and inhibit coordination amongst health providers.

Chamber staff will continue to review the bill and is available to answer questions.