Federal Update

Early Thursday morning, Senate Republicans began the process of repealing the ACA by opening up the debate on a budget resolution (which provides direction to key committees for the budget reconciliation process, including drafting specific legislative language). During the debate, Senators proposed non-binding amendments to the resolution to be voted upon, which social media tagged as #votarama. Some of the failed amendments included ensuring the Medicaid expansion stays in place, protecting people with pre-existing health conditions, allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s health plans, and protecting children on Medicaid or CHIP. The resolution passed on a 51-48 party-line vote.

Today, House Republicans passed the same resolution, with a 227-198 vote, all Democrats and nine Republicans voting no. These resolutions, do not require presidential signature.

Moving forward, house and senate committees with jurisdiction over the ACA will begin to draft elements of the budget reconciliation bill (which can pass with a 51-vote majority in the Senate). Through this process, how much of the ACA Congress intends to repeal will become clearer and may also include some replacement ideas. However, uncertainty on an ACA replacement remains rampant on Capitol Hill. Complicating matters, the President-Elect stated in his news conference earlier this week that his administration would submit a repeal and replace plan as soon as his Health & Human Services Secretary, Tom Price, was confirmed (his confirmation hearing is slated for Wednesday, January 18). He also noted repeal and replace would happen “simultaneously.”

The California Senate sent a letter to Congressman Kevin McCarthy warning of the harm to California residents should the ACA be repealed, absent a substantive replacement. The letter highlighted the declines in California’s uninsured rate and offered suggestions on improving coverage rather than focusing on a repeal.

Early Thursday morning, Senate Republicans began the process of repealing the ACA by opening up the debate on a budget resolution (which provides direction to key committees for the budget reconciliation process, including drafting specific legislative language). During the debate, Senators proposed non-binding amendments to the resolution to be voted upon, which social media tagged as #votarama. Some of the failed amendments included ensuring the Medicaid expansion stays in place, protecting people with pre-existing health conditions, allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s health plans, and protecting children on Medicaid or CHIP. The resolution passed on a 51-48 party-line vote.

Today, House Republicans passed the same resolution, with a 227-198 vote, all Democrats and nine Republicans voting no. These resolutions, do not require presidential signature.

Moving forward, house and senate committees with jurisdiction over the ACA will begin to draft elements of the budget reconciliation bill (which can pass with a 51-vote majority in the Senate). Through this process, how much of the ACA Congress intends to repeal will become clearer and may also include some replacement ideas. However, uncertainty on an ACA replacement remains rampant on Capitol Hill. Complicating matters, the President-Elect stated in his news conference earlier this week that his administration would submit a repeal and replace plan as soon as his Health & Human Services Secretary, Tom Price, was confirmed (his confirmation hearing is slated for Wednesday, January 18). He also noted repeal and replace would happen “simultaneously.”

The California Senate sent a letter to Congressman Kevin McCarthy warning of the harm to California residents should the ACA be repealed, absent a substantive replacement. The letter highlighted the declines in California’s uninsured rate and offered suggestions on improving coverage rather than focusing on a repeal.