Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., held a meeting with several insurers and Republican senators on the health of the individual market and on the repeal and replacement of Obamacare.
Attendees at the meeting included groups such as the Council for Affordable Health Coverage, America’s Health Insurance Plans, Anthem, American Academy of Actuaries and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, according to a source familiar with the Monday gathering.
The meeting comes as some senators are seeking a short-term bill to shore up the individual market while they transition away from Obamacare. However, the idea has gained little traction as GOP leadership is instead pushing for a vote on a full healthcare reform bill by the end of this month.
Topics at the meeting include stabilization measures to protect consumers in the current individual market, which is for people who don’t get insurance through work, while the markets transition away from Obamacare, the source said.
Some of the Republican senators in attendance included Susan Collins of Maine, Dean Heller of Nevada, John Hoeven of North Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
The insurance industry has been clamoring for the White House to fund cost-sharing reduction payments, which reimburse insurers for lowering copayments for low-income Obamacare beneficiaries.
