Congress will pass legislation this year to repeal and replace Obamacare, according to House Speaker Paul Ryan, although he said lawmakers still don’t know how long it will take to transition to a new healthcare system.
“Our legislating on Obamacare, on repealing and replacing and transitioning, will occur this year,” said Ryan, R-Wis.
House and Senate lawmakers have not yet agreed on legislation that would replace the law, although they have floated ideas like tax credits for purchasing insurance and allowing people to buy plans across state lines.
“What date all of this gets phased in on is something we do not know,” Ryan said. He said that question will be easier to answer after President-elect Trump takes office and Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., is confirmed to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
“The question there is how long will it take for markets to get put in place, for markets to adjust,” Ryan said. “That question we don’t know the answer to.”
The Senate will vote next week on a legislative vehicle for repealing the law, followed by a vote in the House. Lawmakers will then vote in February on a full repeal bill that, according to Vice President-elect Mike Pence, will include a “framework” for replacing the law.
