After the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued the new assessment of the American Health Care Act that showed that the amendments made to the original bill costs $32 billion more and it will reduced the number of uninsured under the original bill by only 1 million people, conversations were continuing on a Senate bill. Now that a CBO score is available senators can determine, by working with the Senate Parliamentarian which items in the House bill can be kept in and which items violate the Senate “Byrd” rule. That rule limits a reconciliation bill to its impact on spending.
The Child Welfare League of America has released a letter of opposition based on the modifications and the new CBO analysis of the American Health Care Act. The CWLA letter.
Families USA is also soliciting signature for a letter to the Trump Administration urging them to work with state and insurance company officials and to issue a regulation that empowers the Administration to negotiate with insurance companies to ensure consumers in all areas have adequate coverage options. The concern is that while Congress debates the Administration will make efforts to weaken the market. To sign on go here.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), the number two leader, said that the Senate would vote on a bill by the end of July. Other Senate Republicans have been more negative comments in their districts this past week. If senators can get to 50 votes and pass it by the end of July it would mean members would be heading to their month-long summer break with two health care repeal bills open for criticism.
