Senate Approves Reconciliation Bill Repealing Large Portions Of ACA

Implementing Health Reform. On December 3, 2015 the Senate voted 52 to 47 to repeal large parts of the Affordable Care Act. The House has voted over fifty times to repeal the ACA since the Republicans took control in 2011, but this is the first time the Senate has passed an ACA repeal bill. Because the vote was taken under the congressional budget reconciliation process, the legislation could be passed with a simple majority vote rather than the 60-vote majority that is usually necessary in the Senate to avoid a filibuster. The vote came at the end of a long day in which 46 amendments to the legislation were offered from both sides of the aisle, most of which were ruled out of order, defeated, or withdrawn. All Republicans voted for the repeal except for Senators Collins (Maine) and Kirk (Illinois). All Democrats voted against repeal except Senator Sanders, who did not vote. The Senate amended reconciliation legislation already passed by the House. That legislation had targeted particular provisions such as the employer and individual mandates, the high-cost employer-sponsored health plan (Cadillac plan) excise tax, and funding for Planned Parenthood. A Broad Approach The Senate amendment is much more comprehensive. Like the House bill, it would effectively repeal the individual and employer mandate. However, because the Senate Parliamentarian decided that outright mandate repeals could not be included in a budget reconciliation bill under the Senate rules, the legislatio...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Featured Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage Medicaid and CHIP ACA repeal budget reconciliation Cadillac tax Senate Source Type: blogs