A twice-weekly healthcare working group of Senate Republicans could be ending soon as leadership looks to vote on a bill before Congress’ August recess.
The working group of more than a dozen lawmakers has been meeting twice a week for nearly a month to discuss how to proceed on legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare. No legislative text or consensus has emerged on key issues such as Medicaid spending, and a member of GOP leadership hinted time isn’t on their side.
“The leader will allow a certain amount of discussion, but at some point we will have to make decisions and then we will have to put something out there and eventually vote,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., a member of Senate leadership.
When asked if he hopes to vote on a bill before the August recess, Thune responded he “hopes so.”
Tuesday’s meeting focused on how to reduce premiums. Senators heard from members of the BlueCross-BlueShield Association, which is made up of Blue Cross insurers across the country.
“We really focused today on the insurance aspect,” said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. “How do we build a plan that works for the insurers both in terms of making sure they participate and helping keep premium costs down?”
Senators also discussed with actuaries the cost drivers behind insurance premium increases and how to lower them, added Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the second-ranking GOP senator.
Thune said the Senate is looking at some changes to the House bill, including how the tax credits that lower the cost of health insurance are structured.
The American Health Care Act, which passed the House this month, pegs tax credits to age, with older people getting more money. The legislation doesn’t take into account income levels and lets insurers charge seniors five times more than younger people.
Obamacare pegs tax credits to income and lets insurers charge seniors three times the amount it charges younger people.
The Senate is looking at a mix for tax credits that would take into account both age and income.
Senators also are exploring changes to the AHCA’s Medicaid proposal, which keeps the Obamacare expansion in place but freezes enrollment in 2020.
That year, Medicaid funding would convert from fee-for-service to a block grant that would give states a fixed amount or per capita caps that provide funding based on the number of beneficiaries in a state.
No consensus has been reached on any of those issues.
GOP leadership made it clear that while they are encouraging all members in the conference to get involved in shaping a bill, “at some point we need to vote,” Thune said.
“That day of reckoning will come,” he added.
• Washington Examiner Chief Congressional Correspondent Susan Ferrechio contributed to this report.
