washington – House Republican leaders unveiled a plan Friday Solve health care costs That will cause premiums to skyrocket for more than 20 million Americans before the tax credit lapses at the end of the year.
But the plan does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Republican leaders will allow a vote on amendments to the plan that would include extending expiring tax credits, according to Republican leadership aides.
This move is intended to appease Moderate Republicans trying to force votesThe tax credit would be extended for one to two years and reformed through separate legislation through what’s known as a discharge petition.
The extension has divided parties, with opponents saying the subsidies are rife with fraud and that higher-income families should not be eligible.
democrat Already pushed A three-year extension without reform — is a no-go for Republicans.
The Republican plan unveiled Friday includes a provision to expand association health plans, in which multiple employers band together to buy coverage and lower the cost of benefits. Another provision would fund cost-sharing reduction payments aimed at lowering premiums for some Affordable Care Act enrollees. The proposal also requires greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers to lower drug costs.
“While Democrats demand bigger taxpayer checks to insurance companies to hide the costs of their failed laws, House Republicans are addressing the real drivers of health care costs to provide affordable care, increase access and choice, and restore the integrity of our nation’s health care system for all Americans,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said in a statement.
Johnson has been meeting with leaders of several factions in the conference this week to try to agree on a plan.
The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the package Tuesday afternoon and prepare for a floor vote as soon as Tuesday night or Wednesday.
It’s unclear whether it has enough support to pass a live vote.
In a statement Friday night, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called the Republican proposal an “11th-hour measure” and said he would oppose the bill if it reaches the House.
“House Democrats will continue to fight to protect the American people’s health care. We are ready to work with anyone on the other side who sincerely wants to stop the Affordable Care Act tax credits from expiring at the end of this month,” Jeffries said. “Unfortunately, House Republicans have introduced toxic legislation that is completely unserious, hurts hard-working American taxpayers, and was not designed to gain bipartisan support.”
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