April 10, 2017

The replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act, dubbed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), was introduced by Speaker Paul Ryan only to be pulled from the floor vote as it became clear there was not sufficient Republican support to pass the bill. President Trump has vowed to continue working on a deal, meeting both with Democrats and staunch Republican opposition such as the members of the House Freedom Caucus. These discussions have yet to produce a tangible legislative proposal, but the Chamber will continue to monitor the situation closely. It remains possible that Congress will be pulled back for an emergency vote as they adjourned for Spring Break last week.

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 are 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.