ACA Repeal and Replace Efforts Running Out of Steam

Continued uncertainty surrounds the Affordable Care Act repeal and replacement efforts. Last Friday morning the Senate voted down 49-51 the Health Care Freedom Act known as the “skinny repeal” legislation, failing to win the necessary support of three Republicans.

The past week involved heated days of legislative activity around healthcare reform. Senators debated and voted on the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act (ORRA), which failed 45-55. This bill would have annulled the law and allowed Congress two additional years to replace it.

Additionally, they considered the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which also did not pass with a vote of 43-57. This bill would have erased the current statute and replaced it with a more limited government healthcare role.

It’s unclear if the House and Senate will take a break from their healthcare reform efforts. It is still possible they would work on a repair scenario across party lines forming a bipartisan effort to repair certain aspects of the ACA. Analysis of this option would potentially result in approximately 6 million fewer insured by 2025 compared to repeal numbers with an estimated 32 million being left uninsured.

Examination by HRI finds a repair effort would help industry organizations and players realize more neutral outcomes. However, the administration, specifically the HHS Secretary, IRS, DOJ and the President have the power to strengthen or weaken the current law by managing the ways it functions.

Healthcare organizations need to understand that their resilience is and clearly will continue to be tested as the federal government works through the bill process. Healthcare leadership needs to prepare their organizations for the future, whatever that may be.

Source:  Health Research Institute Weekly Insights. June 24, 2017.

PwC’s HRI Health Reform 2.0: A guide to developing resilience amid an uncertain future for the Affordable Care Act.