House Republicans will vote on two Obamacare repeal measures they have passed before in the final days before a Supreme Court ruling that could upend a big part of the law.
In an effort to highlight parts of the law with the most Democratic opposition, Republicans plan to vote Thursday on ditching the health care law’s tax on medical manufacturers and a panel designed to control Medicare costs mainly by cutting provider payments.
The GOP-led House has voted twice in the past to repeal the 2.3 percent medical device tax. The tax helps pay for the healthcare law, but manufacturers insist the measure will prompt companies to shift production overseas and hurt innovation.
Republicans also have voted twice to eliminate the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a panel of appointees that could cut Medicare payments to doctors if costs grew above a designated point. The panel hasn’t been filled, but for years it’s been one of the GOP’s chief Obamacare targets.
Both bills have bipartisan support: 20 Democrats co-sponsor the advisory board bill while more than 40 have signed on to the medical device repeal.
However, the White House said Monday night it would veto both bills.
Noticeably not on the House’s agenda for this week or next: voting on a response if the Supreme Court blocks Obamacare subsidies in a majority of the states.
For months, Hill Republicans have been discussing behind closed doors how they would respond if the Supreme Court upholds the King v. Burwell challenge this summer. Expected by the end of June, the decision could result in health insurance subsidies being cut off from more than 6 million Americans.
Republicans want the challenge upheld, but some also say they want to keep the subsidies flowing temporarily so low and middle-income Americans don’t suddenly lose the financial assistance. Lawmakers had said they would present a plan before the Supreme Court ruling, but now say they’re waiting to see the ruling first.
