Senators abandon bipartisan efforts on stabilizing Obamacare

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held hearings in September with health policy experts, governors and health insurance commissioners to come up with an agreement, but were unable to arrive at a consensus.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, HELP Committee chairman, wanted to see more flexibility for states in terms of crafting their own healthcare plans, as well as one year of funding for insurer payments known as cost-sharing reduction subsidies, currently being paid by President Trump. Sen. Patty Murray, the committee’s top Democrat, had raised concerns about whether the flexibility requested would jeopardize Obamacare’s protections for people with pre-existing illnesses or would mean higher costs for maternity care or mental health.

“Senator Murray and I had hoped to agree early this week on a limited, bipartisan plan to stabilize 2018 premiums in the individual health insurance market that we could take to Senate leaders by the end of the month,” Alexander said. “During the last month, we have worked hard and in good faith, but have not found the necessary consensus among Republicans and Democrats to put a bill in the Senate leaders’ hands that could be enacted.”

He did not detail their disagreements, and Murray said she believed she had made “tough concessions” to Republicans on state flexibility. The health insurance exchanges are facing a rise in premiums for 2018, as well as fewer health insurance companies selling coverage in the face of massive losses and uncertainty.

“If anybody is walking away, it’s only the GOP. Democrats are ready to make a deal,” tweeted Matt House, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

As the bipartisan discussions were being held, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., introduced with 16 Democrats the Medicare for All Act, which would move the U.S. to a government-run healthcare system funded through taxes. Republicans, meanwhile, are pushing for an Obamacare overhaul bill by a Sept. 30 deadline to pass legislation under the rules for reconciliation, a tool that allows a bill to be passed with a simple majority.

“I am disappointed that Republican leaders have decided to freeze this bipartisan approach and are trying to jam through a partisan Trumpcare bill, but I am confident that we can reach a deal if we keep working together, and I am committed to getting that done,” Murray said.

“This is not about substance. We gave them many of the things they asked for, including copper plans and wide waiver authority. The Republican leadership is so eager to pass Graham-Cassidy that they’re scuttling a balanced, bipartisan negotiation,” House said in a statement later.