July 6, 2017

After weeks of negotiating, the Senate has published its “working draft” of the Better Care Reconciliation Act, their version of the American Health Care Act passed narrowly in the House. The bill repeals all of the taxes introduced in the ACA, with the notable exception of the Chamber-opposed Cadillac tax, which will go into effect in 2026 under this proposal. Further, it prohibits health plans purchased with tax-credits to go toward a plan that covers abortions and defunds Planned Parenthood. It would fund CSR’s through 2019 and eliminate the employer and individual mandates in their entirety. Medicaid subsidies will be available to those at 350 percent of federal poverty level, and raise the age ratio to 5:1. Finally, it would extend the Medicaid Expansion (compared to what is outlined in the AHCA), starting a year later in 2021 and returning to the pre-ACA levels in 2024. Currently, the bill does not have sufficient support in the Senate to pass, however discussions continue with the goal of passing before the end of the month.