New Graham-Cassidy Bill: A Last GOP Shot At ACA Repeal And Replace Through Reconciliation

On September 13, 2017, senators from opposing parties introduced two bills in the Senate embodying radically different approaches to health care reform. This post will analyze the non-Medicaid provisions of a block-grant bill introduced by Republican senators Lindsay Graham (SC), Bill Cassidy (LA), Ron Johnson (WI), and Dean Heller (NV) late morning. A later post will describe the single-payer bill introduced by independent senator Bernie Sanders (VT) and sixteen Democratic co-sponsors mid-afternoon, while a third post will address the Medicaid provisions of Graham-Cassidy. With only days left before budget reconciliation authority—which would allow Republicans in the Senate to pass ACA repeal and replace legislation without Democratic votes—lapses on September 30, the Graham-Cassidy bill is probably the Republican’s last chance at ACA repeal. The Sanders bill, on the other hand, does not stand any chance at being even considered until the Democrats retake Congress. It does mark the fact that the single-payer approach—long a fringe idea—is beginning to receive serious attention. What’s In The Bill? Earlier iterations of the Graham-Cassidy bill have been around for some time. See here and here and here. Two versions were released today. This summary follows the version on Senator Cassidy’s website, which reflects the official summary linked in the press release, rather than the version released with the press release itself. The fundamental idea of the Gr...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage Medicaid and CHIP ACA repeal and replace Bill Cassidy block grants Dean Heller Lindsay Graham pre-existing conditions Ron Johnson single payer Source Type: blogs