GOP Wants Trump to Trim ACA Benefits, Say Congress Aides
Source: Bloomberg
by Anna Edney , Sahil Kapur , and Zachary Tracer
December 23, 2016, 5:00 AM EST December 23, 2016, 7:56 AM EST
Facing a years-long wait before they can fully implement a planned repeal of Obamacare, Republicans lawmakers are exploring how the Trump administration can quickly trim required health insurance benefits under the law and lower the cost of health plans, said key GOP congressional aides.
Republicans plan to use a fast-track procedure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but with a built-in delay to postpone full repeal for years while they navigate the complexities of passing a replacement. By going after the benefit rules now, however, they can take advantage of the broad authority given to the executive branch when the law passed to make faster changes, said the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is ongoing.
Known as “essential health benefits,” the benefit requirements being examined are 10 broad categories of services all ACA plans must cover, such as preventive and wellness care, mental-health services and prescription drugs. Other options the administration could take quickly include narrowing the times and circumstances when people can sign up for coverage under the law, or letting states get more waivers from requirements under the law, according to the Republican aides.
Regulation Roll-Back
The proposals are just one option being considered by Republicans as President-elect Donald Trump’s administration plans a wide roll-back of rules implemented by the Obama White House. Such efforts, which Trump’s administration could do unilaterally, are attractive because they avoid lengthy fights with Congress and fit with the president-elect’s theme of fewer government rules.
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-12-23/gop-wants-trump-to-trim-obamacare-benefits-say-congress-aides
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sure they will cut benefits, but they won't cut costs. People should know better.
