Wednesday, 29 March 2017 08:48
Breaking News – Healthcare Repeal & Replacement Bill Denied
Written by Juliet FitzgibbonsAfter weeks of intense ACA repeal and replacement efforts, House Republicans withdrew the American Health Care Act (AHCA) bill on Friday, March 24th, when it was clear they lacked the votes for it to pass.
The AHCA would have kept a few key components of the Affordable Care Act, such as the protection for people with pre-existing conditions as well as allowing dependent children to remain on their parent’s plan until age of 26. The bill would have eliminated many of the taxes and the individual / employer mandates, as well as significantly defunded Medicaid.
While various senators are suggesting other bills, the signs are mixed on whether the current bill or any prior replacement bills will be considered in the immediate future. House Speaker Paul Ryan is indicating they’ll continue to work on healthcare reform in the background while moving ahead on other areas of the agenda. President Trump initially indicated he was "moving on", declaring that his efforts would be focused on the travel ban and tax reform. He has indicated, however, that he's open to hearing new proposals, even from Democrats who are willing to have a "constructive conversation."
For individuals and employers, it will be business as usual under the Affordable Care Act, at least for now. Stay tuned as we report on any new bills, as well as the various administrative actions from the Trump Administration that could support or undermine the Affordable Care Act.
Published in
Healthcare Legislation
Juliet Fitzgibbons
Juliet joins Fall River as an Account Executive and brings over 15 years of prior broker and account management experience. Her experience brings extensive knowledge on employee benefit programs, account management and creative cost-saving strategies and compliance solutions for employers of various sizes.
She is responsible for new business proposals, client renewals including plan benchmarking, rate analysis and mid-year reviews. She helps clients navigate healthcare systems and educates employers and employees through open enrollment meetings and day-to-day service requests. Juliet joined Fall River in 2015.